Hundreds of Crashes Reported Following Recent Snowfall

Friday, 16 January 2026 05:55

OPP officers in southwestern Ontario responded to 217 crashes between 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 4:00 p.m. yesterday.

WEST REGION - It was a very busy day for first responders in southwestern Ontario.

Several crashes were reported during the recent snowfall that started Wednesday night and continued throughout the day on Thursday..

Sergeant Ed Sanchuk posted a video on the OPP West Region X page at around 4:30 p.m. yesterday, providing everyone with an update.

"Since 9:00 p.m. last night on January 14th to 4:00 p.m. on January 15th, OPP officers here in West Region and southwestern Ontario have responded to 217 crashes and counting."

Here at Heart FM, we received multiple reports of tractor trailers getting stuck on the on and off ramps to Highway 401. The OPP also closed Highway 403 from Middle Townline Road to Highway 53 for several hours after multiple crashes were reported in the area.

Sergeant Ed Sanchuk had this message for everyone who responded throughout the day.

"Thank you to all of our call takers and dispatchers, you mean the world to us out here and we just want to say thank you to your dedication and commitment. To all of our first responders, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, tow truck operators and snow plow operators, thank you for your dedication to keeping our roads clear and as safe as can be to get people to and from work or wherever they were going."

Sanchuk would also like to remind everyone to drive slow when the roads are snow covered and give yourself some extra space to stop if need be.

217 crashes, YES that's correct. #OPP officers in West Region have been extremely busy with this latest blast of snow and ice. A BIG thank you to all dispatchers call takers, first responders, tow truck and snowplow operators. Please drive safely. #WROPP ^es pic.twitter.com/TV8QINtZ2V
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) January 15, 2026