UPDATE: 9:22 p.m.: All lanes have now reopened.
UPDATE: 6:15 p.m.: Quinte West OPP says police are continuing to investigate a series of multi-vehicle collisions that shut down Hwy. 401 in both directions on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The collisions started at about 8:30 a.m. when whiteout conditions were also being reported in the area and involved about 50 vehicles, but there were no fatalities or serious injuries.
In an evening update, police said three to four people were sent to hospital with minor injuries.
The westbound lanes were closed for the bulk of the day but have since reopened. However, at press deadline, the eastbound lanes were still closed for cleanup and major congestion was still being reported along Hwy. 2 as traffic was being rerouted off the highway.
In one incident, police said a woman was pulled from a car before it became engulfed in flames. Photos from the scene show the car then covered in spinach after the wreckage.
Other photos from the scene show at least one to two transports also went up in flames.
Police said these incidents serve as a critical reminder to slow down and leave extra room between vehicles.
UPDATE: 4:06 p.m.: Westbound lanes have reopened. Eastbound remains closed. To the east near Odessa, westbound lanes have also reopened after a crash there.
UPDATE: 2:31 p.m.: Emergency crews still on scene and working to reopen the highway. All lanes closed.
UPDATE: 12:51 p.m.: OPP has confirmed there have been no reports of life-threatening or serious injuries as a result of collisions along Hwy. 401 in the Quinte West area. Police say efforts continue to remove people and vehicles from the scene. (Of note: Serious injuries were previously initially reported.)
UPDATE: 12:12 p.m.: Drivable vehicles are being cleared from the westbound lanes in the Trenton area and tow trucks gathering nearby to remove other vehicles as quickly as possible.
OPP says all emergency crews are working towards reopening the highway as quickly and safely as possible under difficult weather conditions.
Public safety remains the top priority, and police continue to call on residents for patience and understanding.
East Region OPP has also issued a travel advisory for people travelling east of Trenton and beyond to be aware of deteriorating road conditions, saying several areas are experiencing heavy snowfall and strong winds, creating whiteout conditions on roadways.
Visibility is significantly reduced and surfaces are becoming slippery and icy, leading to unpredictable travel conditions and delays. Collisions and closures are now also being reported in the Lennox and Addington and Napanee areas.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:
Emergency crews are dealing with a series of crashes in near zero-visibility along Hwy. 401, which has shut down the highway in both directions stretching from Shannonville to Brighton.
Initially, crash reports started trickling in in the westbound lanes in Trenton near St. Hilaire Road and in the stretch between Glen Miller Road and Wallbridge Loyalist Road.
Additional crashes were then being reported stretching into the Shannonville area and the full highway closure confirmed.
In an update around 11 a.m., OPP said buses were being deployed to transport stranded motorists in the area to the Trenton arena at 8 Couch Crescent.
Police also said an estimated 50 vehicles have been involved in numerous collisions, and people should expect a prolonged closure along the highway as investigation and cleanup efforts continue.
According to the latest information available at press deadline, the highway closure involves both directions between Shannonville Road to County Road 30 in Brighton.
Police, fire, and paramedics continue to respond to crashes along the highway. Serious and minor injuries have been reported.
Whiteout conditions continue to be reported this morning throughout the Quinte and east Northumberland areas, and Environment Canada’s snow squall warning remains in effect.
Police are urging people to avoid the area and use alternate routes and follow emergency detour routes, with signage in place in the Trenton area.
The arena has also been set up to serve as a temporary warming centre. Emergency crews continue to check on stranded vehicles for safety purposes.
Quinte West OPP continues to investigate a series of multi-vehicle collisions which happened Tuesday, January 27, around 8:30am. This involved a total of approximately 50 vehicles. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or serious injuries. 3-4 people were transported to hospital… pic.twitter.com/OvsMNVi7M6
— OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) January 27, 2026
