A serious crash closed Hwy. 174 in east Ottawa overnight and has created a major traffic headache.

The crash involved a tanker truck and a four-door compact passenger vehicle. It occurred just before 8 p.m., Wednesday along Hwy. 174 between Trim Rd. in Orléans and Quigley Hill Rd. in Cumberland Village.

Because a tanker truck was involved, Ottawa firefighters called in both their foam truck and hazmat units. It was eventually determined that the truck carried a non-toxic cargo, but the mess has taken an extended period of time to clean up.

Ottawa Paramedics told 580 CFRA Radio that one woman, 21, was rushed to hospital with critical injuries. She had to be extricated from her vehicle by fire crews.

The truck driver was also taken to hospital by paramedics.

As of 7 a.m., the highway remained closed in both directions - and that is causing major problems for Thursday morning commuters.

Compounding the traffic headache for drivers trying to move across the busy east-west corridor is that Old Montreal Rd., is closed due to construction just east of Trim Rd. That means traffic has to detour a significant distance up to Innes Rd. -- adding anywhere from a half hour to an hour to commuting times

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