A Wednesday afternoon crash has caused a lengthy closure on part of the westbound Highway 402 in Middlesex County.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said a serious collision between a passenger vehicle and a transport truck led to a chemical spill.
Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said a passenger vehicle cut off the truck between Centre Road and Kerwood Road, causing it to leave the roadway and end up in a ditch.
[tweet id="1940563798911603157"]
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
Police said the truck was carrying approximately 45,000 litres of monochloroacetic acid.
The spill prompted the road closure as the chemical could pose a threat to public health.
Emergency crews and the Ministry of the Environment are on scene to clean up the spill and ensure the safety of everyone in the area. The highway was expected to reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday.
However, an update from OPP said cleanup efforts are expected to continue into the afternoon as hazmat teams continue to unload acid from the transport truck.
Sanchuk initially said the road would reopen at around 4 p.m., but in a post just after 5 p.m., he said that would be delayed to an unspecified time.
[tweet id="1940880050167099806"]
He said area residents do not need to worry about staying indoors but they are asking people to avoid the site.
"We've had individuals trying to walk up the highway to have a look or driving a golf cart. Do me a favour, the highway's closed for everybody's health and for public safety, so we're asking people to use some common sense," Sanchuk said. "Please stay away from the crash area while this clean up continues."
The highway reopened to traffic at around 1:45 a.m. on Friday.
-With files from Natalia Vega
