Highway 17 reopens after fatal crash

OPP have shut down Highway 17 between Highway 563 and Pinewood Drive in Wawa after a serious crash. Drivers should expect lengthy delays.

Highway 17 in the Wawa area has reopened after being closed for almost eight hours overnight for a police investigation.

Ontario Provincial Police responded to what authorities had called “a serious collision” involving two vehicles on Highway 17 in Lake Superior Provincial Park.

“As a result of the collision, one driver is deceased, and a second driver sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital by ambulance,” police said in a news release Saturday morning.

The local OPP detachment attended the scene along with Algoma ambulance services and the Wawa Fire Department.

Authorities announced the highway closure on social media at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, with the roadway closed in both directions between Highway 563 in Batchawana Bay and Pinewood Drive in Wawa.

“Expect a lengthy closure,” OPP wrote in its initial post.

Ontario 511 indicates the closure actually began before 9:16 p.m.

In an update at 10:45 p.m., police advised that the highway remained closed with no estimated time for reopening.

“Please avoid the area,” OPP said.

Authorities clarified that the crash occurred approximately 60 kilometres south of Wawa on Highway 17, just north of Katherine Cove on Saturday.

Neither the authorities nor the province’s traveller information service indicated that any detours were available during the closure.

Police have not released any further details about the victims or if there are any charges pending as a result of the collision.

According to 511, Highway 17 reopened shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday morning with OPP saying it cleared the scene shortly before 11 a.m.

“The OPP remains committed to public safety and thanks the community for their cooperation and patience,” said police.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to the crash is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.