UPDATE: One person dead in crash that closed Hwy. 17 from Wawa to Batchawana

WAWA – Police say one person has died in a collision south of Wawa this morning that has closed Hwy. 17 in both directions.

Shortly before 10 a.m., the Superior East Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police responded to a serious two-vehicle collision on the highway near Rabbit Blanket Lake.

The crash location is approximately 30 km south of Wawa, police say.

One person has been confirmed dead as a result of the collision and police said the investigation is ongoing.

The OPP's Northeast Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement team is assisting with the investigation, according to an OPP news release.

Both lanes of Highway 17 between Wawa and Batchawana Bay remain closed as of 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

Ontario511 reports that the highway is closed in both directions between Highway 101 in Wawa and Highway 563 in Batchawana Bay.

Collision on #HWY17 Both Directions between HWY 101(E) - WAWA, WAWA and SEC HWY 563-BATCHAWANA, BATCHAWANA BAY. All lanes closed. #Closure #ONHwys https://t.co/JcFcJ4G7b8

— 511Ontario (@511Ontario) March 28, 2024

SooToday will update this story as information becomes available.