An Ontario Provincial Police cruiser.  (Photo courtesy of the OPP)An Ontario Provincial Police cruiser. (Photo courtesy of the OPP)
Chatham

UPDATE: Multi-vehicle crash causes Hwy. 401 ramp closures near Ridgetown

Traffic was backed up on Highway 401 near Victoria Road on Thursday as police dealt with a multi-vehicle crash.

Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) closed both ramps at Victoria Rd. just before 4 p.m.

OPP Constable Brett Phair confirmed that nine vehicles were involved in the crash, which was caused by a small snow squall that contributed to poor road conditions.

Traffic was diverted from the highway at the location.

The OPP reported that the eastbound lanes and ramp had reopened slightly before 5 p.m.

Slightly before 6 p.m. the highway was fully reopened.

According to police, there were 12 occupants in the vehicles and five were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

"The OPP would like to remind everyone to always be aware of the changing conditions, remain vigilant while driving and make adjustments accordingly. We are now in a time of year where those changes happen often and unexpectedly," said Phair. "It is very fortunate that no one was seriously injured in this event."

Read More Local Stories