UPDATE @ 1:15 p.m.: OPP say a mechanical failure is the potential cause of a fire, in a transport truck carrying flammable cargo, on the 401 in Kingston last night.
Firefighters and OPP responded to the highway, between Perth Road and Sir John A. MacDonald Boulevard around 10:30.
Investigators say the fire spread to the truck’s fuel tanks which exploded and ignited the cargo in the trailer.
The driver was able to get out safely and wasn’t injured.
Both lanes of the higway were closed for four hours, as the ministries of transportation and environment and an environmental clean-up company cleared the scene.
One lane re-opened around 3:00 a.m. and the other at 6:00 a.m.
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A tractor trailer exploded and burst into flames on Highway 401 in Kingston last night (Tuesday).
Explosions were heard around 10 o’clock as the truck burned up in the westbound lanes.
According to social media reports, the transport’s driver escaped safely. And also, according to social media reports not confirmed by police, the truck was carrying a flammable liquid.
The 401 westbound, at Kingston, was closed for around 5 hours to deal with the incident.
OPP opened the highway to traffic shortly after 4 o’clock this morning.
