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Update: Tractor-trailer driver charged with careless driving after Hwy. 17 rollover near Coniston

Hwy. 17 was closed for around five hours Tuesday while crews cleaned up

Updated Nov. 11 at 8:45 a.m. 

The driver of a tractor-trailer that rolled over on Highway 17 in the Coniston area Tuesday morning has been charged with careless driving.

The Nipissing West OPP say they responded to the rollover on Highway 17 just east of the traffic lights and the intersection of Regional Road 55 (The Kingsway) at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 10.

Police say the investigation revealed the tractor trailer was headed north toward Highway 17 on the bypass and subsequently rolled-over after exiting onto the ramp to head east on Highway 17. 

The tractor-trailer was hauling lumber which spilled onto Highway 17, blocking both lanes. The driver — who was the lone occupant — was not injured.

Further investigation revealed that speed was a contributing factor in the collision, say police. As a result, the 49-year-old driver, from East Farnham, Québec, was charged with Careless Driving, contrary to section 130(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) was also on-scene to clean-up the diesel spill.

Highway 17 was closed for around five hours while crews cleaned-up the debris and removed the commercial motor vehicle from the roadway.

Updated Nov. 10 at 1:15 p.m.

The highway is now fully reopened, Nipissing West OPP said on Twitter at 12:25 p.m.

Updated Nov. 10 at 10:40 a.m.

It’s unknown how long Highway 17 will be closed in the Coniston area after a tractor-trailer hauling lumber rolled over early Tuesday morning, say the Nipissing West OPP.

Police say they responded to the rollover on Highway 17 just east of the traffic lights and the intersection of Regional Road 55 (The Kingsway) at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 10.

Investigation revealed the tractor trailer was eastbound on the Highway 17 southeast bypass and subsequently rolled-over after exiting onto the ramp to continue east on Highway 17.

The tractor-trailer was hauling lumber which spilled onto Highway 17, blocking both lanes. The driver — the truck’s lone occupant — was not injured.

Detours are now in place. From Sudbury, westbound traffic can proceed to the Highway 17 westbound ramp. Eastbound traffic will need to detour through Garson or Moonlight Avenue.

From North Bay, eastbound traffic on Highway 17 is being detoured through Garson-Coniston Road or Second Avenue to Moonlight Avenue. 

The Ministry of the Environment is also on scene to clean-up the diesel spill, which is contained. 

Highway 17 will be closed for an unknown period of time while crews clean-up the debris and remove the wreckage.

The investigation is continuing.

Officers remind motorists to obey the road closure signs.

Updated Nov. 10 at 9:25 a.m.

The Nipissing West OPP have provided more information about detours. See below:

Updated Nov. 10 at 9:05 a.m.: Detours have now been set up around the Highway 17 bypass as a flipped transport truck has blocked all lanes of traffic on The Kingsway this morning.

Detours are available by taking the Garson-Coniston Road to Falconbridge Road; drivers can also detour in Coniston by taking Second Avenue to Government Road and heading west to cross Edward Street onto Allan Street and following Allan until it transitions to Bancroft Drive.

All lanes are blocked on Highway 17 in the Coniston area due to an overturned transport truck.

The collision, which occurred before 8 a.m., is at the junction of The Kingsway extension and the Hwy. 17 bypass.

Const. Michelle Coulombe of Nipissing West OPP says there are no injuries associated with the crash. 

No further information is currently available.