Two people were killed and three were injured in a three-vehicle collision on Highway 401 in Mississauga, Ont., provincial police say.

As of 12 noon on Monday, the highway had reopened. It had been closed hours to allow crews to clean up.

UPDATE:ROAD CLOSURE: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy401?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy401</a> EB Collector lanes are now OPEN at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy410?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy410</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy403?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy403</a> - Road crews remain on scene repairing the centre barrier. ^ag —@OPP_GTATraffic

According to the provincial police, three people were transported to hospital with minor injuries and have since been released.

Two others were pronounced dead in hospital, according to Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, spokesperson for Ontario Provincial Police's Highway Safety Division.

Schmidt said reports are that the driver of a red Chevrolet Corvette travelling eastbound on Highway 401 in the collector lane, lost control of their vehicle after overtaking the transport truck.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said several drivers who sped past the crash scene were charged. (Jeremy Cohn/CBC)

"The Corvette slammed into the side of the transport truck, rolled over the concrete median into the express lanes and slammed into a silver vehicle," Schmidt said.

"The transport truck was completely consumed by fire."

Schmidt said the collision had resulted in "massive damage" to the median concrete wall which separates the express lanes from the collector lane.

Fatal collision <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy401?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy401</a> EB at Dixie Road <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mississauga?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mississauga</a> 3 vehicles involved <a href="https://t.co/zYcuoUBkYS">https://t.co/zYcuoUBkYS</a> —@OPP_HSD

In the hours after the collision, Schmidt predicted the cleanup would take "the better portion of the night."

Do not drive the wrong way on highway, police say

Peel Regional Police said the fatal collision at Highway 401 had prompted motorists stuck in traffic to drive the wrong way on the highway as well as across surrounding green spaces to get around the collision.

"Officers are working as fast as possible to help drivers around the accident safely," Peel police said in a tweet, in which they urged motorists not to drive the wrong way on the highway.