Provincial police are warning drivers to avoid sections of Highway 11 in both directions in Orillia as they investigate a fatal multi-vehicle collision.

All southbound lanes of Highway 11 in the Orillia, Ont., area shut down Friday morning after multiple crashes were reported on the snow-covered roadway. The highway is closed for an unknown duration due to multi-vehicle collisions, according to Ontario Provincial Police.

A multi-vehicle collision on Highway 11 in Orillia on Friday morning has closed the highway in both directions, OPP said. Orillia Fire said they were being helped by Oro Medonte Fire, Simcoe County Police, and OPP at the scene in the southbound lanes between Old Barrie Road and Coldwater Road.

Reports on social media suggest up to 50 vehicles may be involved; southbound lanes closed between Coldwater Road and Line 15

Ontario Provincial Police said the highway near Orillia was closed on Friday after the multi-vehicle collision, as emergency services beg for space to respond to the incident.

Provincial police are warning drivers to avoid the section of Highway 11 between Coldwater Road and Line 15 in Orillia.