Staff
The Kenora bypass remained closed as of press time today following an early-morning accident involving two tractor-trailer units just east of Highway 596.
The accident occurred around 2 a.m. when the eastbound and westbound vehicles sideswiped each other.
The collision resulted in the side of a trailer being damaged and its contents spread over the highway.
Police said one of the drivers suffered minor injuries.
He was taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora, where he was treated and released, police added.
Contents of one of the trailers included seven-kg containers of strychnine in pellet form (commonly known as rat poison).
An undetermined number of containers spilled onto the highway.
A Hazmat team from Winnipeg was coming to assist with clean-up procedures.
The scene has been contained while officers, assisted by the Ministry of the Environment, prepared a plan for handling of the hazardous material.
There is no immediate danger to members of the public, although police are asking people to avoid the area.
The bypass was expected to be closed between the west junction and Highway 658 for some time until the clean-up could be completed.
