It was a jaw-dropping scene, one that witnesses of a fatal crash will likely never forget.

One person was killed after a five-vehicle crash on Highway 3 on Wednesday.

OPP say Diana Pepper, 67, of Leamington died in the crash. She was a rear passenger in one of the vehicles. Police say she succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Debris was scattered across the well-travelled stretch of highway. Vehicles were in the ditch, some were completely destroyed.

Police say the collision took place between Cameron and County Road 23 in Essex around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Six other people were injured. Police say none of those injuries are considered life-threatening.

Nicole Nantais witnessed the accident first-hand, missing it by a mere second.

“I was about one car length away from the accident,” says Nantais.

“I don't even know what happened,” she says. “I saw seven cars in the air at once.’

In a panic she called 911, leaving the scene, and her car behind.

“I felt like someone was watching out for me,” says Nantis. “Like big guy in the sky or something because I was very close to being in the middle of it.”

Just before the crash, a GMC pickup truck was hauling a utility trailer heading westbound on Highway 3 approaching Essex County Road 23. 

Police say the GMC rear ended a Pontiac travelling in the same direction.  The Pontiac then rear ended a Chevrolet van. The Pontiac then veered off into the oncoming lane impacting a transport truck and also another Pontiac.

Three males in the Chevrolet van sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to an area hospital. 

Two other females in the first Pontiac sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

One male in the GMC pickup sustained minor injuries and was treated at an area hospital.

A male in the tractor trailer was not injured.

One female in the second Pontiac received minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The section of Highway 3 was closed for several hours for the investigation.