UPDATE: Police notified the public that the highway reopened at 2:45 p.m.
Police are reporting that the victim of today’s fatal motor vehicle collision involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor trailer is a a 22-year-old from North Algona- Wilberforce Township.
At the noon hour, a portion of Highway 17 between Pembroke and Cobden remained closed as officers from the Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated.
“On Jan. 14, at approximately 2:45 a.m., UOV OPP officers, Renfrew County paramedics and Whitewater Region firefighters responded to the two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 between Mountain Road and Sutherland Road,” reads an OPP press release.
Officials say preliminary investigation has found that a westbound passenger vehicle crossed into the lane of an eastbound tractor trailer. As a result of the collision the passenger vehicle caught fire. The driver of the passenger vehicle, a 22-year-old from North Algona- Wilberforce Township, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer was not seriously injured.
“The investigation is continuing in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. An OPP Collision Reconstructionist and Technical Collision Investigator are also assisting with the investigation along with OPP Forensic Identification Services,” reads the press release.
Highway 17 is currently closed between Highway 41 and County Road 8 in Cobden with local detours in place. Police say the closure is expected to last until midday.
(Sherry Haaima)