Ottawa residents who rely on Highway 401 for weekend getaways, business trips, or visits to family in Toronto and Kingston are being warned of major disruptions after a fatal crash closed a stretch of the highway near Kingston on Wednesday evening.
What happened
According to the Ontario Provincial Police, a woman driving on Highway 401 hit the centre median in the Kingston area. She then left her vehicle, and while out on the highway, was struck and killed by a passing vehicle. OPP have not released further details about the circumstances of the initial collision or the identity of the woman, and an investigation is ongoing.
The 401 was shut down in the area while police investigated the scene, causing significant backups for anyone travelling the corridor that evening.
Why it matters for Ottawa
Highway 401 might run through Kingston, but it's a lifeline for Ottawa drivers too. Thousands of Ottawa residents use the 401 corridor every week — whether commuting to jobs in the Quinte region, driving to Toronto for work or family visits, or connecting through Highway 416 and Highway 15 to reach Kingston for weekend trips. A closure like this one can mean hours of delays and detours for Ottawa-area travellers who have no choice but to reroute onto local roads through Kingston or backtrack toward the 416.
It's also a sobering reminder for Ottawa drivers about what OPP consistently warn against: never get out of your vehicle on a highway shoulder or median after a crash unless you're in immediate danger from fire or another hazard. Provincial police have repeatedly urged drivers involved in minor collisions to move to a safe location off the roadway, turn on hazard lights, and wait for help rather than standing near live traffic lanes.
Safety reminders for anyone driving the 401
OPP say incidents like this one underscore a few basic safety rules that apply just as much to Ottawa commuters as anyone else on the 401:
- If your vehicle is disabled after a collision, stay inside with your seatbelt on if it's safe to do so
- Turn on hazard lights immediately to alert oncoming traffic
- If you must exit the vehicle, move well away from traffic lanes, ideally behind a guardrail
- Call 911 or *OPP (677) rather than attempting to flag down help yourself
With fall and winter travel season approaching, Ottawa drivers planning trips down the 401 corridor should factor in extra time and check for active incidents before heading out.
With files from CBC Ottawa.
