The OPP say the eastbound Express lanes of the 401 at Yonge Street were closed for several hours after a pedestrian was struck and killed on the highway, Saturday afternoon.
According to OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told our media partner CP24 that the man was hit by a transport truck just after 2:30 p.m., with a passenger vehicle located close to the scene of the collision.
"We're not sure exactly what he was doing outside the vehicle, if it was disabled or if he was doing any maintenance on it to get it back on the roads or what the situation was," Schmidt said.
Fatal pedestrian collision - #Hwy401 EB express at Yonge St.
— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) February 2, 2019
A male pedestrian was struck by a passing transport truck. A passenger vehicle was located nearby. #OPP investigating.
Express lanes closed for the investigation pic.twitter.com/ofRfqxaqbB
The truck driver remained at the scene.
All eastbound traffic was diverted into the Collector lanes at Allen Road, although some cars passed that point and had to be turned around.
"Typically either [officers] will direct traffic back towards the last transfer and have them [move into] the collector lanes, or if it's safe to do so they may allow them to pass on the far side of the highway to get by the scene once the scene has been checked for evidence," Schmidt explained.
The OPP says anyone who was stuck close to the scene of the collision was best off paying attention to orders from police on where to go and what to do.
The Express lanes re-opened just before 6 p.m.