(MARATHON ON.) -On Sunday November 16, 2014 at approximately 12:30pm, officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Marathon/Manitouwadge detachment were advised of a motor vehicle collision (MVC) involving 4 Tractor trailers on Hwy 17 approximately 8km west of White River ON. near Crocker Lake.
A westbound commercial motor vehicle (CMV) lost control while attempting to round a curve and jackknifed, blocking the highway. A westbound CMV following the first CMV swerved to avoid the MVC and entered the westbound ditch. Trying to avoid the jackknifed CMV, two more CMVs traveling east entered the eastbound ditch coming to rest on the shoreline of Crocker Lake. The visibility was poor due to blowing snow.
The drivers of the vehicles were transported to hospital, treated for minor injuries and released.
The highway was closed for 3 hours while emergency crews and tow trucks cleaned up the scene. The Ministry of the Environment was consulted regarding possible diesel fuel leak from the fuel tank of the transports.
Two of the CMVs were transporting livestock and several of the cattle escaped from the trailers. Motorists are advised that crews will be on scene removing the CMVs as well as cattle over the next few days. Please use caution when traveling in the area. Also the public is reminded that any cattle that have wandered from the scene are still the property of the owner and no one is to remove any of this property until the scene is released by the owner.