UPDATE #1 FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION – HIGHWAY CLOSURE EXTENDED

(Elgin County) – It is anticipated that the Highway 401 West bound lane closures between Graham Road and Furnival Road will continue until approximately 4pm instead of the 12pm as originally suggested. Traffic continues to be diverted via the Emergency Detour Routes.

Original Release Dated October 5, 2013 – A 57 year old Blenheim Ontario man is dead after being struck and killed while assisting at the scene of a tractor trailer rollover on Highway 401.

The incident began around 12:27am on Highway 401 West bound lanes approximately 1.5km West of Graham Road, West Elgin Ontario. A west bound tractor trailer with a male driver and male passenger travelled onto the south shoulder and then rolled onto its side blocking 3/4 of the two west bound lanes. A passenger car with 5 occupants and a SUV carrying two occupants as well as several tractor trailers stopped to assist at the scene of the collision when a second tractor trailer, also travelling west bound, collided with the rolled over trailer. The 2nd tractor trailer then struck the parked SUV and 4 door passenger vehicle. One of the drivers of the assisting tractor trailer and one of the occupants of the passenger vehicle were out on the roadway attempting to light flares when the 2nd tractor trailer hit. The 57 year old Blenheim man was struck and killed by the 2nd tractor trailer while the driver of one of the assisting tractor trailers was also struck, but suffered only minor injuries.

Police have identified the deceased as Robert MCGUIGAN, age 57 from Blenhiem Ontario.

The driver of the 2nd tractor trailer was transported to Four Counties Hospital with minor injuries.

None of the other parties were injured in the collisions.

Several other tractor trailers also sustained minor damage while avoiding the collision.

Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers continue to investigate the cause of the collisions with the assistance of OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators.

Highway 401 West bound lanes will remain closed until approximately 12 noon on October 5, 2013 to facilitate the investigation and clean-up.

Traffic is currently being diverted via the Emergency Detour Route (EDR) at Graham Road, West Elgin.

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