Massive pileup on Highway 400 sends 9 to hospital

Dozens of cars and trucks slid off roads and highways, often into each other, across Toronto early Sunday evening as the region was hit by a sudden snowfall.

• CBC Toronto | Traffic
• Forecasters warn of slippery commute on Monday

The OPP was responding to more than 100 collisions on area highways by shortly before 8 p.m., according to one spokesman, as slippery conditions got the better of drivers.

Those collisions included a massive pileup in the northbound lanes of Highway 400, near Highway 9, that involved between 20 and 40 vehicles, including two transport trucks,according to York Region Paramedics.

Nine people were taken to hospital, but no details about their injuries were immediately available.

The scene of the pileup was about one kilometre long, according to paramedics.

The northbound lanes were still closed at Lloydtown Aurora Road by late Sunday night.

Elsewhere, the TTC reported multiple streetcar diversions because of rails blocked by collisions.

GO Transit said at one point all of itsbuseswere behind schedule by up to 20 minutes.

The snowy conditions also threatened to delay or cancel flights at Pearson International Airport. Travellers were urgedto check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

City of Toronto officials said shortly after 8 p.m. the first round of salt was being applied to local roads. Salting will continue overnight.