Two dead in Hwy 69 transport crash

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* 10:56 a.m. announcement

SUDBURY – At 3:30 a.m. this morning, members of the Sudbury OPP Detachment responded to a motor vehicle collision on Highway 69, Servos Township (two kilometres north of Highway 637 - Killarney turnoff).

A preliminary investigation reveals that a southbound fuel tanker truck was passing another southbound tractor-trailer in the passing lane.

For unknown reasons at this time, a northbound tractor-trailer crossed the centre line into the path of two southbound transports travelling side-by-side.

The driver of the tanker truck, who was passing, took evasive action to the opposite lane to avoid the collision.

The northbound transport continued and side-swiped the second southbound transport and came to rest in the northbound lane and subsequently caught fire and is still burning.

The second transport came to rest in the ditch.

The driver of the southbound tanker truck escaped without injuries.

At this time investigators have confirmed at least two occupants in the northbound transport died at the scene.

Names are not being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.

The driver of the second southbound transport was taken to St. Joseph’s Health Centre and sustained minor injuries.

Officers have requested the assistance of two OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators and the investigation is continuing.

The highway in anticipated to be closed in both directions until later this afternoon as officers continue their investigation and until debris on the highway is cleaned up.

A detour of the scene has been set up for southbound traffic through Highway 537 and for northbound traffic through Highway 64.

*************************