MATHESON, ONT.

More than $3 million in coins spilled across a northern Ontario highway when a Brinks tractor-trailer crashed early Wednesday, police said.

The driver and passenger of the tractor-trailer remain in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

At about 4 a.m., the Brinks truck crossed the centre line of Highway 11 and struck a rock face, spilling its cargo of millions in uncirculated Canadian coins. It then caused a chain-reaction of crashes, including a minivan and two other tractor-trailers, one of which left a load of candy strewn on the road, police said.

The crash happened south of Ramore, about 50 km northwest of Kirkland Lake.

Crews are using a one-metre round industrial magnet on a backhoe to pick up the toonies and loonies, Ontario Provincial Police Officer Marc Depatie with the South Porcupine detachment said.

Depatie said the crash is very unusual.

"I walked through the scene where there was more money than I will ever see in my whole life," he said.

Although no security issues have arisen, police and Brinks workers are on scene while crews clean up the coins.

The highway is closed while the clean up continues.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.