Kitchener man identified as person killed in Highway 401 crash

CTV's Karis Mapp speaks to a mother who was in the thick of the fatal Highway 401 crash in Cambridge involving nine cars and a transport truck with her child.

A 44-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., has been identified as the man killed in Saturday’s crash on Highway 401.

Ontario Provincial Police did not release his name.

They said nine vehicles collided around 12:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes near Townline Road in Cambridge, Ont.

“A transport truck collided into the back of slowing or stopped traffic resulting in approximately 16 people with injuries sent to hospital,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CTV News on Sunday.

Aumatul Majeed was driving one of the vehicles involved in the crash. Her three-year-old son was also in the backseat.

“All of a sudden in my back mirror view, I saw the car hitting the car, the truck coming very fast hitting the cars behind me,” she told CTV News. “It happened so quick, very, very quick that I couldn’t save myself either... My car did not hit anything, so I believe that means we were the last one to (be) hit.”

• READ MORE: One person dead following Highway 401 crash in Cambridge, Ont.

Majeed and her son were taken to WRHN @ Midtown (formerly known as Grand River Hospital). She said they were released after undergoing several tests.

A 44-year-old driver was airlifted to a trauma centre, where he was pronounced dead.

No further details were shared about the other 15 people who were hurt.

The driver of the transport truck was unharmed. Police said they were arrested at the scene for dangerous driving.

“No charges have been laid at this time,” Schmidt said. “The driver was released unconditionally pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam video is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Speeding and safety

Majeed worries about what could have happened if the speed limit was higher.

The province has promised to increase the speed limit on some major highways from 100 km/h to 110 km/h, starting later this year.

“As soon as you hear about 110, people are going to go to 130, right?” said Majeed. “If they go 120 right now... then that means they’re definitely going to hit 130 [km/h] easily.”

CTV News reached out to OPP on Monday, but they would not say whether speed was a factor in the crash.

The Ontario Safety League is a non-profit that aims to reduce preventable deaths and injuries on provincial roads.

“The reality is the faster you go, the harder you hit, the more consequences there are,” said Angelo DiCicco, the organization’s president and CEO.

While the signage may change, it will not affect physics or police enforcement.

“A higher posted speed limit is not a licence to speed,” DiCicco said. “Safety is about behaviour, roadway design, education, enforcement and personal responsibility.”

He noted that drivers must be aware of their surroundings at all times, especially when traffic slows down.

“It’s imperative to be checking your rear-view mirror and trying to communicate early with the traffic behind,” DiCicco said. “Communicate with your break lights... You may [want to] consider a lane change where there’s better space.”

Majeed, for her part, is grateful her family is safe. She also hopes the crash will serve as a reality check for other drivers.

“There were families involved in this accident,” Majeed said. “It’s not something small. We definitely need to take all the precautions we can.”