Two seniors dead in collision between motorcycle and tractor trailer

An out of focus motorcycle is seen in this undated stock image. (Mohsan Ali Mirza/Pexels.com)

Emergency crews responded to a crash in Haliburton County Sunday afternoon that resulted in the deaths of two elderly motorcycle riders.

In a 12:10 p.m. social media post, Haliburton Highlands OPP reported that Highway 118 in Algonquin Highlands was fully closed at Whiskey Jack Lane south of Beech Lake due to the crash.

The OPP public information advisor told CTV News that the collision involved a motorcycle and a tractor trailer.

In a Sunday afternoon news release, the OPP confirmed that the crash was fatal, saying that the truck caught fire and had to be extinguished.

The driver and passenger of the motorcycle, a 64-year-old woman and 79-year-old man, were pronounced dead.

Highway 118 is expected to remain closed for several hours between 25th Line and Tulip Road, which is nearly a five-kilometre stretch. The OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement Team (TIME) is involved in the ongoing investigation.

Witnesses and anyone with relevant footage or information is asked to contact the Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment or Crime Stoppers.