Update: Head-on collision closes highway in Welland; 2 people seriously injured

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Published November 3, 2021 at 5:21 pm

(Ontario Provincial Police photo.)

Traffic around Highway 140 in Welland was likely to be tied up for hours on Wednesday, after two people were seriously injured during a three-vehicle collision.

A preliminary report from Welland Fire and Emergency Services Chief Adam Eckhart indicated that there was a “serious accident” on Hwy. 140, which is close to Highway 406. The Ontario Provincial Police have closed Hwy. 140 between Ridge and Netherby roads, and two people are being taken to hospital with serious injuries.

(Update: The highway reopened shortly after 11 p.m.)

Staff Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP said the collision happened around 4:45 p.m.

“(It was a) two-vehicle collision, approximately head-on,” Schmidt said. “A third vehicle also got tangled up in the mess… Two people have been taken to hospital, one by air, one by ground, both with serious injuries.”

Schmidt added that it was possible that one the drivers was operating their vehicle “erratically” prior to the collision. Any witnesses to the collision are encouraged to call the Niagara OPP at 905-356-1311.

Schmidt added that an OPP collision reconstruction investigation team is being called to the scene. The Niagara Regional Police Service is also assisting at the scene. Collision reconstruction work often requires road closures that last several hours.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s real-time tracking showed that all lanes were closed around 4:56 p.m. on Wednesday.

(Cover photo via Ontario Provincial Police Highway Safety Division.)

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