Crabtree, Quebec – Two people died Wednesday afternoon in a head-on collision on Route 158 in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, authorities said. The crash underscores the dangers of winter driving conditions in the province.
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. When, according to preliminary reports, one driver lost control of their vehicle, crossed into the opposite lane, and collided with an oncoming vehicle. Radio-Canada reported that the two occupants of the vehicle that crossed the center line were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries and was similarly transported to a hospital for treatment. TVA Nouvelles confirmed the injuries were not life-threatening.
Police closed Route 158 to allow investigators to examine the scene and determine the cause of the crash. According to Marc Tessier, a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (Quebec Provincial Police), slippery road conditions are being investigated as a potential contributing factor, but the investigation is ongoing. Zone911 reported that other factors could also be involved.
“The chaussée glissante [slippery road surface] could be one of the factors in the collision, but we are just at the beginning of the investigation, so there could be other factors that could also be added later,” Tessier said.
