Two dead in Highway 144 crash northwest of Sudbury

Two died in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 144 Saturday. A third passenger was seriously injured, while the other driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Two people were killed in a serious two-vehicle crash on Highway 144 south of Cartier, a northern Ontario community located in the Sudbury District approximately 20 kilometres north of northwestern Greater Sudbury, on Saturday afternoon, Ontario Provincial Police confirmed Sunday in a news release.

The collision occurred at about 1:15 p.m. on July 5, prompting responses from OPP, Greater Sudbury Fire Services and emergency medical services (EMS). A 65-year-old and a 69-year-old, both from Sudbury and occupants of the same vehicle, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger from the same vehicle and the lone driver of the second vehicle sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospital.

Highway 144 was closed in both directions between Windy Lake Provincial Park Road and Cartier for more than nine hours while police investigated. Authorities advised motorists to use Old Cartier Road, also known as Old Highway 544, as a detour when possible. The highway fully reopened shortly before 10 p.m.

OPP is continuing its investigation to determining the cause of the crash.

Police are asking anyone with information, including dash-cam footage, to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 using reference number E250883430 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.