Police say a man who died in a pileup on Highway 11 last week was struck when he exited his vehicle.
Police have revealed a 49-year-old man killed in a massive pileup on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont. on Friday had stepped out of his vehicle during a blinding snowstorm.
Police say the victim was struck by another vehicle in the multi-car collision that injured nearly a dozen more and left 50 drivers stranded for hours.
“I believe that the driver was in the initial collision that had taken place due to the visibility being very poor,” said OPP Acting Sgt. Jake Daynes.
The tragic incident prompted a strong warning from provincial police to motorists involved in collisions to remain in their vehicles.
Costly Towing Bills
Friday’s crash shut down the highway for 12 hours as emergency crews worked tirelessly to clear abandoned vehicles and help stranded drivers, many of whom were taken to a temporary warming centre.
Several motorists told CTV News leaving their vehicles on the highway came at a hefty price.
One man said he had to pay a $925 towing bill and an $85 storage fee after his truck was towed less than a kilometre from the crash site.
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Highway 11 collision Vehicles involved in a collision on Highway 11 in Orillia are pictured Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (Ontario Provincial Police)
Highway 11 collision Dozens of vehicles involved in a collision on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (Courtesy: Sonny Subra)
Fatal multi-vehicle crash on Hwy 11 in Orillia
Highway 11 snow squalls Snow squalls create near-zero visibility along Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge)
Highway 11 snow squalls Snow squalls create near-zero visibility along Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge)
Highway 11 snow squalls Snow squalls create near-zero visibility along Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge)
Highway 11 snow squalls Snow squalls create near-zero visibility along Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge)
Highway 11 Traffic backed up along Highway 11 at Line 14 in Oro-Medonte, Ont. due to a multi-vehicle collision on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (CTV News/Steve Mansbridge)
Ontario Highway 11 pileup Ontario Provincial Police say Highway 11 in Orillia is closed due to a Friday morning pileup amid whiteout conditions in some areas. (X/Orillia Fire)
Highway 11 snow squalls Snow squalls create near-zero visibility along Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (Courtesy: Robert Kowalski)
Highway 11 Snow squalls create treacherous road conditions along Highway 11 north of Barrie, Ont. on Fri. Feb. 7, 2025. (OPP)
Highway 11 Road conditions along Highway 11 through Orillia, Ont. on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (OPP)
Orillia snowfall Ontario Provincial Police say Highway 11 in Orillia is closed due to a Friday morning pileup amid whiteout conditions in some areas. (X/OPP Central Region)
Orillia snow Parked vehicles covered by significant snowfall in the hospital parking lot in Orillia, Ont., on Fri. Feb. 7, 2025., (Viewer Submission)
Orillia snow Parked vehicles covered by significant snowfall in the hospital parking lot in Orillia, Ont., on Fri. Feb. 7, 2025., (Viewer Submission)
Orillia snow Parked vehicles covered by significant snowfall in the hospital parking lot in Orillia, Ont., on Fri. Feb. 7, 2025., (Viewer Submission)
Orillia snow Parked vehicles covered by significant snowfall in the hospital parking lot in Orillia, Ont., on Fri. Feb. 7, 2025., (Viewer Submission)
Highway 11 collision Dozens of vehicles involved in a collision on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (Courtesy: Sonny Subra)
Highway 11 collision Emergency crews attend the scene after dozens of vehicles are involved in a collision on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri., Feb. 7, 2025. (Courtesy: Sonny Subra)
Highway 11 collision Vehicles remain stranded on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri. Feb 7, 2025, as tow crews work to remove them from the area. (Courtesy: Sonny''s Towing)
Highway 11 collision Vehicles remain stranded on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont., on Fri. Feb 7, 2025, as tow crews work to remove them from the area.
Daynes said officers had no choice but to prioritize public safety.
“The OPP [is] not going to be paying for the bill for people to have their vehicles towed,” he said, adding, “In emergency situations like this, we have to do what’s best for the safety of everyone.”
The Insurance Bureau of Canada confirmed insurance policies don’t cover towing fees in these cases.
“There is no coverage under insurance because being forced to evacuate or leave your vehicle is not an insured peril under the auto insurance policy,” explained Anne Marie Thomas, the bureau’s director of consumer and industry relations.
The bureau advises drivers to retrieve their vehicles as soon as possible to avoid additional storage fees while police remain focused on safety.