Updated: Westbound Linc reopens after fiery crash causes life-threatening injuries

The westbound lanes of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway have reopened following a fiery, two-vehicle crash early Monday that sent a 24-year-old man to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The eastbound lanes are expected to remain closed until Monday night as the City of Hamilton repairs damage to the road from the vehicle fire.

Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30 a.m. for a crash in the eastbound lanes of the parkway, between Upper James and Upper Wentworth streets.

Police believe a vehicle - driven by a 16-year-old boy - was speeding eastbound when it collided with a vehicle that was attempting to merge onto the parkway at Upper James, said Const. Indy Bharaj.

The impact caused the speeding vehicle to flip and land on its roof. The 16-year-old suffered minor injuries and did not require transport to hospital. An 18-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was transported to hospital with broken bones.

The merging vehicle caught on fire, Bharaj said. The 24-year-old driver was taken to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition.

The collision reconstruction unit is investigating.

The parkway was closed in both directions all morning for the investigation. This included police using their drone to capture measurements and images of the scene.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com