More than a dozen people were injured in a fatal multi-vehicle crash in Brampton involving a tractor trailer.
The crash happened around midnight Friday in the area of Queen Street and The Gore Road, west of the 50 Freeway.
Speaking to the media at the scene, Const. Sarah Patten of Peel Regional Police said the tractor trailer driver hit approximately 10 vehicles waiting at a red light on westbound Queen Street.
“Many vehicles were destroyed and people were trapped inside,” he said as he described what happened.
An adult woman, who was a passenger in one of the affected vehicles, died at the scene of the accident.
Two others, believed to be male adults, were taken to a trauma center, Patten said.
The rest of the injured were taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The age of the victims is unknown.
Peel paramedics said they assessed 15 patients, including the deceased.
In total, 13 people were taken to the hospital, two of them were taken to a trauma center.
We are currently on the scene of a multi-vehicle MVC with people trapped at the intersection of Queen St and The Gore Rd. The intersection will remain closed while @PeelPolice investigate. Please avoid the area. @ChiefBoyes @BPFFA1068 ^MW pic.twitter.com/6rviUXfFlQ
— Brampton Fire and Emergency Services (@BramptonFireES) August 27, 2022
Drivers are advised to use alternate routes.
COLLISION: – Queen Street and The Gore Road in #Brampton – Tractor trailer and multiple vehicles involved – Woman pronounced dead – Several other victims transported to local hospitals and trauma centers – Use alternate routes – C/R at 12: 03 am- PR22- 0283909
— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) August 27, 2022
The driver of the tractor trailer has now been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm and dangerous driving causing death. He is in police custody.
It is not known how fast the tractor was traveling at the time of the collision.
“We don’t know the circumstances of why this happened,” Patten said, adding that while it’s sad that a life was lost, police are “very thankful that a lot of people walked away with injuries that they didn’t put their lives in danger.”
Peel Police’s Major Collision Office is investigating.