The driver of a pickup truck partially crushed by a semi-trailer truck on Wednesday morning on Highway 40 West, remained stuck in the wreckage of his vehicle for two long hours, before finally being freed by firefighters.
The spectacular collision occurred shortly before 10 a.m. on Highway 40 West, just before reaching the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, which connects Senneville to Vaudreuil-Dorion.
Photo QMI Agency, Maxime Deland
“During its lane change, the heavyweight collided with the van,” said Sergeant Nicolas Scholtus, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec.
The van ended up partially embedded under the semi-trailer truck, keeping its driver prisoner.
Photo QMI Agency, Maxime Deland
The van was pulling a trailer inside which was a herd of cows. No animals were injured during the events, but firefighters saw fit to hose them down at some point to cool them down.
Montreal firefighters worked hard for two hours to free the injured driver from his precarious position.
Photo QMI Agency, Maxime Deland
Using the jaws of life, they literally had to cut the van into pieces in order to gain access to the victim.
The man was finally able to be evacuated and taken to hospital around 11:45 a.m., exactly 120 minutes following the accident.
The injuries he sustained would not be life threatening.
Photo QMI Agency, Maxime Deland
Because of this spectacular accident, Highway 40 West had to be completely closed to traffic for long hours. Motorists wishing to cross Lac des Deux-Montagnes via the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge had to make a detour of several minutes via Highway 20, then Highway 30, before being able to return to the highway. 40.
