A violent collision involving a motorcycle brought eastbound traffic to a standstill on the Queen Elizabeth Way in Burlington this afternoon, creating massive delays for commuters heading toward Toronto during the busy afternoon rush hour.
Ontario Provincial Police responded to reports of a serious motorcycle crash near the Guelph Line shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday. According to OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt, the motorcyclist lost control while attempting to navigate between lanes, resulting in a collision that scattered debris across all eastbound lanes.
“The rider was transported to a trauma center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” Schmidt told CO24 News. “It’s a stark reminder of the vulnerability motorcyclists face, especially during peak traffic periods.”
All eastbound lanes were immediately closed following the incident, with traffic being diverted off the QEW at Guelph Line. Motorists reported backups extending several kilometers west of the collision site, with some vehicles trapped in standstill traffic for nearly an hour.
Highway maintenance crews worked rapidly to clear the wreckage and debris, while collision reconstruction specialists documented the scene. The Ministry of Transportation deployed digital signage to alert approaching drivers, though many were already caught in the congestion before notifications could reach them.
“We’re seeing an unfortunate trend of motorcycle incidents as the weather improves,” noted traffic analyst Morgan Williams in comments to CO24 Canada News. “This spring has been particularly concerning with a 15 percent increase in motorcycle-involved collisions compared to the same period last year.”
By 4:45 p.m., authorities had reopened one lane to allow traffic to slowly resume, with full reopening occurring shortly after 5:30 p.m. However, residual delays continued to affect the QEW corridor well into the evening commute.
This incident marks the third serious motorcycle collision in the Greater Toronto Area within the past week, raising questions about motorcycle safety as warmer weather brings more riders onto highways. Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has previously called for enhanced safety measures on this stretch of the QEW, which has seen a concerning number of serious collisions in recent years.
As investigation continues into the exact circumstances of today’s crash, transportation officials urge both motorcyclists and automobile drivers to exercise increased vigilance. With summer approaching and more motorcycles expected on provincial highways, what responsibilities do both riders and drivers share in preventing these increasingly common and dangerous collisions?
