It was the perfect storm for a disaster and it struck with a raging ferocity on the 401 near Grafton, Ontario Thursday afternoon.
Two people died and 11 others were injured after a massive 20-car pile-up closed the highway between two cities around 12:30pm. Original reports indicated as many as five had perished but police won't confirm any other deaths.
The accident happened in a terrible snowstorm, with all the collisions taking place within seconds of each other.
Among them: a tractor trailer, which flipped over and burst into flames.
The bodies of those who were killed in the chain reaction crashes remained in the twisted wreckage for hours, while crews tried to put out the fire.
"It appears that the initial accident occurred in front of (the tanker) involving a couple of tractor-trailers and some small vehicles," explains Northumberland Emergency Medical Services site commander Gordon Glibbery. "The tanker truck, in an attempt to evade the accident, itself got into an accident and exploded."
Those who were lucky enough to escape serious injuries will never forget what they saw.
"I just was on the way out with my truck and the tractor trailer across the road had burst into flames and we all tried to get over to the left-hand side to get around it but the total area was blocked off and we all ran into it," outlines one driver.
But weather wasn't the only factor. So was speed.
"Vehicles and cars and trucks going down way too fast and I said to myself they're going to hit those cars," motorist James White observes. "Sure enough, it was bang, bang, bang, bang."
To make matters worse, the truck contained the worst possible load. "One vehicle is a tanker trailer with gasoline," Northumberland O.P.P. Sgt. Richard Newbarn confirms.
The carnage forced officials to close the highway in both directions from Grafton to Cobourg.
Most still can't believe it happened. "[I've driven] from Cobourg to Toronto for 20 years as a bus driver and I've never seen anything like this," one of the motorists admits.
The injured were taken to Northumberland General Hospital, which briefly went into crisis mode, expecting more casualties.
"There was quite a lapse after we initially were informed which was great," points out spokesperson Marianne Shill. "We were given lead time and we knew they were coming and we had time to prepare for the disaster."
In all 11 patients arrived at various facilities - three are in serious condition, and one is critical.
Meanwhile, authorities waited for the fire to burn itself out before deciding how best to start what could be a long road of clean-up and repairs.
Damage to the asphalt may keep the eastbound lanes of North America's busiest highway closed until Friday afternoon. Depending on what investigators find at the scene, it could take even longer than that. It's hoped at least one westbound lane will be up and running for the Friday morning rush hour.
See our photo gallery of pictures from the scene below.
Victim: "Thank the Lord I survived"
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