Tractor trailer filled with chickens catches fire on Hwy. 401
Posted May 11, 2015 6:00 am.
Last Updated May 11, 2015 11:09 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a slow commute for drivers on the westbound Highway 401 after two major incidents caused massive lane restrictions.
All westbound lanes of Highway 401 were blocked at Mavis Road after a tractor trailer full of live chickens caught fire.
Emergency crews were called to the scene just before 2:30 a.m.
OPP said the truck was carrying 8,000 chickens at the time of the fire. About 3,000 chickens died while the other 5,000 were loaded off the truck by hand by fire officials, police said.
There has been no word on what caused the fire.
Police eventually allowed vehicles to pass in two lanes but the truck and clean up crews remained on scene for several hours blocking the shoulder and one lane.
All lanes were reopened around 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, a multi-vehicle crash blocked several westbound lanes of Highway 401 in Whitby just as the morning rush kicked off.
The crash happened just before 5:30 a.m. at Lake Ridge Road, blocking multiple lanes approaching Brock Street for about two hours.
Only minor injuries were reported.
The section of highway reopened in Whitby around 7 a.m.
