Two children were badly injured in a three-vehicle collision on Hwy. 401 Friday night, Ontario Provincial Police say.

Officers responded to the collision in the westbound express lanes near Warden Ave. at around 10 p.m.

“The lead vehicle was slowing and coming down to a stop because of traffic up ahead when the second vehicle collided with the stopped vehicle,” Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said.

The third vehicle, a pickup truck, then slammed into the second vehicle, Schmidt said.

The middle vehicle was a small Honda carrying a family of four. Two children, aged 3 and 6, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A woman who was in the Honda was also injured. She was treated and released

“It appears that the collision was a result of driver inattention or drivers not responding to changing traffic patterns ahead,” Schmidt said. “It’s just a scary situation when we have collisions like this, especially when there are children involved.”

Schmidt no indication of drugs of alcohol was found during the investigation.

The highway has since reopened.

OPP say 16 drivers were charged with impaired driving in the Greater Toronto Area Friday night. Six of the charges were laid when a driver was involved in a minor property damage collision.

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