Eleven people are dead following a devastating two-vehicle crash near Shakespeare, Ont., in Perth County, Ontario Provincial Police have confirmed.

An officer at the scene told reporters that in his 28 years on the job, he has never seen such a horrific accident scene.

Police say the crash occurred at the intersection of Perth County Road 107 and Perth Line 47 in the rural area of Hampstead shortly before 5 p.m. The intersection is controlled by a stop sign.

A transport truck was heading south when it was struck by a white passenger van carrying 13 people. The driver of the truck was killed in the crash as were 10 people in the van. Police are working to inform the families of the deceased.

Two people have been transported to hospital. A third person has been transported to a local trauma centre via air ambulance. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

Investigators are trying to determine how many of the victims were wearing seatbelts.

Images from the scene show the van pushed up against the side of a house with its side completely torn off. The transport truck can also be seen on the field on its roof. There is a large field of debris and blue tarp can be seen covering a number of bodies on the ground.

Migrant workers

OPP Insp. Steve Porter said at a news conference Monday night that the passengers in the van were migrant workers. There are unconfirmed reports they worked for a poultry company.

CP24 placed a call to Brian's Poultry Services to verify the information. A woman who answered the phone would only say "no comment" before hanging up.

The driver of the transport truck worked as an owner and operator for Speedy Transport. The company released a statement saying they are withholding the name of the victim. The statement said that company officials spoke with officers and were told their driver tried to avoid a passenger van that failed to stop.

"The Speedy Transport driver tried to avoid the passenger van but was unable to do so, resulting in his own death," the company letter said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our driver's family and the families of the other victims involved in this horrible tragedy."

Speedy also noted that Monday's crash was the first fatality the company has experienced since its inception.

Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty issued a statement Monday night expressing his condolences.

"It is with great sadness that I learned today of the tragic auto accident in Hampstead that has taken so many lives," the statement said. "On behalf of 13 million Ontarians, I want to offer our deepest condolences to those who lost a loved one and to offer our most sincere prayers for those taken to hospital.

We also thank the first responders who provided compassionate emergency care under very difficult circumstances," the statement continued to say. "I know Ontarians will pull together to support the victims' family and friends during this difficult time."

Dozens of police officers remain at the scene trying to piece together how the crash occurred. Porter said police will remain on the property throughout the night and into tomorrow morning in order to collect evidence.

Shakespeare is located approximately 30 kilometres west of Kitchener, just outside of Stratford, Ont.