Tragedy On Highway 400 In Ontario

Around 11:300 on Halloween, 2017, there was a huge pile up on the 400. At least 14 vehicles were involved, including a fuel transport. The transport caught fire and exploded. Firefighters were left to contain it as it was too large to attempt to put out.

Global News coverage of the crash

This will most likely end up with a call to regulate transport even more in the province, as there have been calls to do so after past tragedies. Remember the requirement that commercial vehicles be governed to 105km/h in Ontario?

That is tragic. Sadly it is what happens when truck drivers mess up. Simply put, when we mess up, people die.

I read about this last night. Absolutely tragic.

As far as a way to prevent this from happening in the future, no idea. From what I read, the truck drivers weren't paying attention and/or were following too close. I imagine there will be a bigger push for speed limiters (although aren't speed limiters already mandatory in Ontario?), emergency braking/On Guard systems (or something to force a minimum amount of following distance), and driver facing cameras. I don't know that the US will see much change from this, but I'm sure we'll have a few big wrecks of our own this winter.

RIP to those involved. Be safe out there and pay attention.

Local fuel tanker trucks are a lot lighter than OTR trucks. My fuel tanker company hauled about 52,000lb of gas. That 44,000lb load you haul OTR is kindergarden compared to it. Its very difficult to stop 8,600 gallons of moving gasoline even harder for food grade.

Tankers are no fun.