Sault woman dies after Highway 17 crash

Yesterday at 12:40 p.m., a fatal accident occurred on Highway 17 about three kilometres north of the Chippewa River.

Dead is Alice Champoux, age 47, of Sault Ste. Marie.

She died in hospital at 9 p.m. last night as a result of her injuries.

Witnesses say that an older blue Ford pickup travelling southbound was straddling both lanes as it passed several vehicles at a high rate of speed.

The female driver continued southbound.

The vehicle was weaving on and off the road striking two sections of guard rail on the west shoulder and eventually leaving the roadway, rolling several times and coming to rest on its roof.

The vehicle was demolished. The highway was closed in both directions as first response people used the jaws of life to free the driver. She was transported to Sault Area Hospital where she died shortly after 9 p.m.

Police suggest alcohol may have been a factor and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.