‘Makes you proud to be a Canadian,’ First responders tackled challenging conditions during fatal multi-vehicle crash on Highway 11

Ontario Provincial Police say Highway 11 in Orillia is closed due to a Friday morning pileup amid whiteout conditions in some areas. (X/Orillia Fire)

Stories are emerging about the extreme challenges first responders faced as they worked to rescue multiple people stranded after a deadly multi-vehicle crash on Highway 11 near Orillia on Friday.

The collision, which happened amid intense whiteout conditions, claimed the life of a 49-year-old man and sent several others to the hospital.

Emergency crews struggled in near-zero visibility and heavy snow to reach the sheer number of vehicles on the highway, and were forced to tackle efforts on foot.

Dave Pearson, a motorist who was stuck in the backup, described the difficulties firsthand in an email to CTV News Barrie.

“We were on our way to Toronto ... and were about 100 metres behind the accident on Highway 11,” Pearson wrote. “Whiteout conditions lasted for several hours. Traffic was so congested that first responders were unable to get (their) vehicles to the accident site. Things were real bad.”

Despite the challenges as Mother Nature continued to hammer the area, emergency personnel worked relentlessly to assist those in need.

“We watched first responders struggling down the highway with heavy equipment, jaws, and saws,” Pearson recalled. “One lady brought a stretcher down the highway by herself, and it wasn’t easy. Police went from vehicle to vehicle checking on stranded motorists and keeping us informed.”

“Our paramedics are such a strong, resilient group,” said Patrick Hervieux, County of Simcoe Paramedics deputy chief of operations.

Ontario Provincial Police shut down the highway in both directions for most of the day so crews could deal with the wreckage and clear snow.

By the afternoon stranded motorists were transported to a warming centre while crews began the task of removing abandoned vehicles.

Simcoe County paramedics reported nearly a dozen people were transported to the hospital with various injuries.

Kyle Zardo, an Orillia resident who was stuck on the highway for hours, described how emergency crews braved the dangerous conditions to reach those in need.

“The blowing snow made it nearly impossible to see what was ahead,” Zardo said. “I saw emergency crews running down the highway with stretchers because their vehicles couldn’t get through.”

“Our equipment is by no means, easy to get around in that kind of [weather], dragging equipment, stretchers. It’s quite cold. The visibility at one point, I was told, was 25 feet maximum,” Hervieux said.

“It kinda makes you proud to be a Canadian,” Pearson’s email continued. “What these men and women did was well beyond their call of duty. Great job. You are appreciated big time. Thanks.”

Simcoe County remains under a snow squall warning on Monday, with Environment Canada cautioning that blowing and heavy snow could make for reduced visibility and dangerous driving conditions.