‘You have to really, really slow down’

Motorists warned about bad driving conditions

Wednesday night’s high winds and sudden drop in temperatures led to several car accidents overnight in the Montreal region, including one that shut the Metropolitan eastbound for several hours, and left more than 40,000 Quebecers without power. As of 9 p.m. Thursday night, 4,600 homes were still without power.

Police warned motorists to exercise caution while driving due to black-ice conditions, particularly on the South Shore.

“It’s more than just a day to slow down, you have to really, really slow down. Give yourself several car lengths between yourself and the next vehicle,” said Sgt. Daniel Thibodeau of the Sûreté du Québec.

A 37-year-old man was badly hurt after slamming into the back of a snow clearing truck on the Metropolitan Wednesday night at 11:45 p.m.

The snow plow driver had stopped on the eastbound side of the highway near Blvd. Langelier, just west of Highway 25, for a minor collision ahead of him.

The 37-year-old driver rammed into the back of the vehicle, unable to stop in time because of ice on the road.

He was taken to hospital and remains in serious condition. The highway was shut for several hours while police conducted an investigation, but opened again in time for rush hour.

Slippery conditions led to several minor collisions and cars sliding off the road overnight, particularly on the South Shore of Montreal. Roads exposed to high winds, that have a slight slope and highway exits and on-ramps are particularly dangerous, Thibodeau said.

Ice-encrusted branches contacting power lines were the main cause of the blackouts, while high winds were contributing to new ones.