Both directions of Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County have been reopened after the roadway was affected by multiple crashes Friday.
One crash took place shortly before 11 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the highway at Orford Road in Ridgetown.
Seven vehicles were involved, including four commercial vehicles and three passenger cars. One of the vehicles had seven passengers inside it. Two of them had to be extricated by West Elgin Fire Services.
All seven were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Another collision was reported about 20 minutes later in West Elgin. A tractor-trailer went off the road at the westbound exit to Graham Road. No one was hurt.
A third crash took place in the westbound lanes near the 126-kilometre marker in West Elgin. Emergency vehicles responded at around 11:45 a.m.
Four commercial vehicles left the roadway, with one striking the centre median guardrail. No injuries were reported in that incident.
Police have reminded drivers to slow down when road conditions are poor, leave extra space between vehicles, and turn on their full lighting system to increase their visibility to other vehicles.
