Driver, OPP Officers Hurt After Hwy. 401 Crash Near Pickering City Centre

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario’s police watchdog, has invoked its mandate after a vehicle rear-ended an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cruiser on Highway 401 near Pickering City Centre on April 26, 2026.

What Happened?

• The incident took place in the eastbound lanes of the highway near Brock Road around 4:30am ET on April 26. Road barricades were set up at an angle to divert traffic onto Brock Road as officials investigated a fatal wrong-way collision near Westney Road South that occurred earlier in the morning.
• “An eastbound vehicle drove through the barricades and struck the rear of the [OPP] cruiser. The driver of the civilian vehicle, and two officers from the cruiser, were transported to hospital for treatment,” the SIU said in a news release.
• The driver of the civilian vehicle, a 52-year-old man, sustained serious injuries. The OPP officers were released from hospital with minor injuries.

Investigation Updates

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

🔔 Anyone with information on the incident, including cellphone or dashcam footage, is asked to contact the SIU.

Car Accident Near You? What to Do

Following an incident like this in Pickering, you should:

1. Avoid the accident area so that officials can safely investigate.
2. Reduce speed appropriately when passing emergency vehicles.
3. Remain vigilant when travelling past the accident area.

Your Rights After a Car Accident in Pickering

If you’re injured in a car accident in Pickering — whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian — you may be entitled to:

• Accident benefits under Ontario’s Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS).
• Additional compensation through a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Ontario imposes strict timelines — some insurer deadlines are days after an accident. Speak to a Pickering personal injury lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP before accepting a settlement.