More than a dozen people charged with driving on a closed Hwy. 11

OPP charged 15 drivers after they ignored a Highway 11 closure near North Bay following a serious crash between a transport and a pickup truck over the weekend.

A collision that closed Highway 11 near North Bay, Ont., on April 12 led to 15 people being charged with driving on a closed highway.

Among the offenders was a commercial motor vehicle driver who was also charged with driving while using a cellphone.

Police closed the highway around 7:30 a.m. following a crash involving a CMV and a pickup truck.

“The collision resulted in extensive debris being scattered across the roadway and a pickup truck entering the ditch,” Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release April 14.

“The pickup truck driver was transported to hospital with serious injuries. While the injuries were not immediately life‑threatening, they were assessed as significant.”

Closed for several hours

That led to Highway 11 being closed for several hours while emergency responders investigated the accident scene, before reopening at 2 p.m.

The pickup drivers ended up being charged with careless driving.

“Despite clear signage indicating that Highway 11 was closed, several drivers proceeded onto the closed section of roadway,” police said.

“Officers laid 15 charges for (driving) on a closed highway. In addition, one commercial motor vehicle driver was charged with driving (while holding a) handheld communication device.”

Drivers are reminded to obey road closed signs and to check Ontario 511 for up-to-the-minute road information.

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