‘Absolutely tragic’: 77-year-old man struck and killed on Hwy. 401 near Pearson Airport

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt speaks to CP24 with the latest updates on and what drivers need to know ahead of their morning commute.

A 77-year-old Mississauga man was killed early Saturday morning after being struck by a passing vehicle while standing on Highway 401 eastbound near Pearson Airport, police say.

It happened shortly after 5 a.m., near Dixon Road, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CP24.

Officials say the man had exited his SUV after an earlier collision when he was struck and described the incident as “absolutely tragic.”

Schmidt warns drivers should never leave their vehicles on major highways, even in the event of a crash.

The man, along with two others, were rushed to hospital, though the condition of the other two remain unknown at this time.

“Unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased in hospital a short time later. An absolute tragic outcome here this morning,” Schmidt said.

Major closures around Highway 401, 427

At around 7 a.m., Highway 401 eastbound remained closed at the Highway 427 transfer near Pearson Airport, Schmidt said, adding that drivers would have to find alternative routes.

Police previously urged drivers to expect long delays and avoid the area.

However, as of 12:03 a.m. officials confirmed all eastbound lanes have since reopened.

OPP urging drivers to stay in vehicles after crashes

Investigators from the OPP’s Collision Reconstruction Team remain on scene, speaking to witnesses and working to determine what happened in the moments leading up to the crash.

Schmidt stressed that exiting a vehicle on a live highway is dangerous, even after a crash.

“Standing outside a highway on a live lane, after a collision… unfortunately, just an absolutely tragic situation," he said.

“If you have a breakdown, if you have an issue with your vehicle, we don’t want to see people being pedestrians out on the highway.”

Anyone with additional information or video footage is asked to come forward and contact investigators.