details of the chaos in the area:
A string of crashes on area roads underscored the dangers posed by the winter storm. Early Friday afternoon, Ontario Provincial Police reported a pileup involving more than 50 vehicles on Hwy. 402 near Kerwood Road, which would be just west of Strathroy. That was announced just as police shut down the entire highway in both directions from London to Sarnia due to “extreme weather conditions.” Hours earlier, police closed Hwy. 401 in both directions from London to Tilbury after a series of collisions, including one involving 12 vehicles near Chatham-Kent. There were also reports of a pileup on the 401 near Wonderland Road and a collision on the 402 involving a fire truck. “It’s just chaos out there on the 402 between the 401 and Colonel Talbot Road, both east and westbound lanes,” London Fire Department platoon chief David Hood said Friday morning, noting there were no serious injuries. “There were multiple crashes and jack-knifed transport trucks in the ditch. I can’t even tell you how many fender-benders we’ve got out there right now.” Perth County shut down all its roads. The westbound 401 lanes at Culloden Road, near Woodstock, were also closed due to a crash.