A transport truck lost control in thick fog and jackknifed, blocking multiple lanes of traffic.
Following drivers, unable to see far ahead, slammed into the truck and each other, triggering a chain-reaction crash.
The collision spread across both directions of the highway, leading to one of the worst pile-ups in Canadian highway history.
Some vehicles ignited due to fuel leaks, and several victims were unable to escape in time.
Conditions:
- Heavy fog reduced visibility to just 1–2 meters
- No median barrier at the time; speed limit was 100 km/h
Scale of the crash:
- 87 vehicles involved
- 8 fatalities, more than 45 injuries
- Several transport trucks and passenger vehicles destroyed; some caught fire or exploded
Legal Issues & Liability
Driver Responsibility
Many drivers were traveling too fast for the conditions
Most failed to maintain safe following distances
Investigators concluded that a lack of appropriate caution in low visibility was the primary cause
Government & Road Management
Despite being a known high-risk section, the road had no median barrier or visibility warning systems
Though criticized, the authorities were not held primarily liable
Most legal assessments still placed primary fault on driver error
Liability Breakdown
Lead Truck Driver : Inadequate speed adjustment in dense fog; jackknife caused initial blockage(30–40%)
Following Drivers : Failure to slow down, keep distance, or react to conditions(50% or more)
Highway Authorities : Lack of median barrier, fog detection, and warnings(10–20%)