Ryan Bird Reports on 401 Closure

A truck carrying peat moss rolled over on the 401 Wednesday morning, prompting the closure of all eastbound and westbound express lanes on the Pickering/Scarborough border for hours.

Listen to Ryan Bird's Report

Around 2:20am, the driver of the westbound tractor trailer somehow lost control approaching Meadowvale Rd., sending his truck into a concrete median, across three lanes of traffic and into a light standard, dumping peat moss over the eastbound express lanes. 

Eastbound express lanes were closed for roughly seven hours, while the westbound express lanes were closed for roughly nine hours.

Not only were front-end loaders brought in to clean-up the peat moss, electricians and Ministry of Transportation inspectors were called in to look at the concrete barrier and light standard that were hit. While they were deemed safe, there were concerns that the light standard could fall when the truck was removed from it's base.

The driver of the truck walked away from the crash without any injuries. Police say charges are pending.