Vehicle of interest identified in crash that claimed life of tow truck operator on Highway 401

Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle that hit and killed a tow truck driver on Highway 401. CTV’s Colton Wiens reports.

A vehicle of interest has been identified in a hit-and-run collision that claimed the life of a tow truck operator on Highway 401 in Oxford County Wednesday morning.

According to a news release from Oxford County OPP, at approximately 7:18 a.m. on Wednesday, police, paramedic services, and fire services responded to a fail to remain collision in the westbound lanes of Highway 401, west of Oxford Road 3 in the Township of Blandford-Blenheim.

Upon arrival, police say emergency services located a tow truck operator that was struck by an unknown vehicle while assisting a driver.

The tow truck operator, a 42-year-old male from Kitchener, was pronounced deceased at scene.

A vehicle of interest has since been identified, and Oxford County OPP are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the vehicle and its occupant(s).

Police say the vehicle is described as a commercial motor vehicle, with a blue coloured tractor and trailer, with a black tarp on top.

The westbound lanes of Highway 401 between Cedar Creek Road and Oxford Road were closed while members from the West Region OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team investigated the collision.

All westbound lanes have since been re-opened.

Any person with information or dashcam footage pertaining to the collision is asked to contact Oxford County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.