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UPDATE: Crews continue to cleanup 401 massive accident near Brighton

By William Proulx [1]

BELLEVILLE – Highway 401 west of Wooler Road was opened after being closed for more than 30 hours following a 50-vehicle pileup near Brighton Wednesday morning.

The accident around midnight on Hwy. 401 between County Road 30 and Wooler Road.

The cleanup has been ongoing and emergency service e reduced the highway to one lane in both eastbound and westbound lanes.

Most of the vehicles in the collision have since been removed, but crews are still working towards cleaning up the spillage left by one of the tractor trailers.

The Quinte West Fire Department worked nearly 12 hours during the time of the collision, said John Whelan, Quinte West Fire Chief.

“There was no fire, but we were on scene to ensure public safety,” he said.

Emergency services from both the Quinte and Northumberland areas reported to the scene.

During the time Highway 401 westbound was closed between Wallbridge-Loyalist Road, and County Road 30 near Brighton, police redirected traffic to Wooler Road. This caused heavy traffic flow through the towns of Trenton and Brighton, as motorists were trying to get on Hwy. 2.

Five people were taken to hospital, but none faced serious injuries, said Whelan.

Const. David Ludington says that the cause of the accident in not yet known and is still under investigation.