Hwy. 11 closed NB after wrong-way driver crashes head-on Wednesday

ARDTREA — A wrong-way driver involved in a head-on collision Wednesday afternoon drove several kilometres down Hwy. 11 SB before the crash.

A third vehicle in Wednesday’s crash was on the hoist in the parking lot at Hortons at 1:30 a.m. today following the head-on collision on Hwy. 11 NB.

Traffic was closed both directions between Menoke Beach Rd. and Grand Tamarack Cress. April 11, about 15 kilometres north of Orillia.

Police first tweeted about the crash just after 7 p.m., before an air ambulance lifted at least one of the three drivers involved to hospital from the middle of the highway.

The other two drivers were taken to nearby Orillia Solders’ Memorial Hospital.

At least three vehicles were involved, after the driver travelling the wrong way reportedly left a northbound gas station at Knights Road.

And instead of heading north, turned left into oncoming NB afternoon traffic.

A photo on Facebook shows vehicles involved in the late afternoon crash. (Facebook photo)

He travelled at least five kilometres down past the new Hortons takeout and Weber’s burgers — and may have run another vehicle off the road first — before running into a another northbound vehicle head-on.

A third vehicle, also headed north was slightly damaged in the right front fender when it threaded the collision between the two initial crash vehicles.

Northbound traffic was closed for more than nine hours and re-routed.

Police opened the highway about 2 a.m. Thursday.

Social media reports claimed one of the drivers died.

Police said later Thursday that The females driver of the first northbound vehicle was the victim airlifted to hospital in Toronto with life-threatening injuries. Her two young children were taken to hospital at Orillia and later released.

The other driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A doctor, a nurse and a paramedic who were all off-duty were first on the scene, along with other drivers who assisted in the first few minutes before emergency service workers arrived.

Police are looking for any witnesses. Call them at 705-326-3536 or 1-888-310-1122.

Hwy. 11 was closed in both directions, at Ardtrea north of Orillia, just after 4 p.m. Wednesday and later NB until 1 a.m. Thursday.