Police are actively investigating a two-vehicle crash in Pickering on Tuesday night that left three people dead and two others with life-threatening injuries. The collision occurred around 7 p.m. on Highway 7, near Concession Road 6.
According to Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP, a westbound SUV drifted into the eastbound lanes, colliding head-on with another SUV. Officers found both vehicles with severe front-end damage. The 82-year-old female driver of the eastbound SUV, from Port Perry, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two passengers in the westbound vehicle, a 63-year-old woman from Markham and a 68-year-old woman from Scarborough, also died at the scene. The driver, a 64-year-old man from Markham, and a third passenger, a 70-year-old man from Richmond Hill, were rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team, along with Technical Collision Investigators and Reconstructionists, are working to determine the cause of the crash. At this time, police do not believe weather, environmental factors, or mechanical issues contributed, and there is no indication of alcohol involvement. It is believed that all occupants of the westbound vehicle were wearing seatbelts.
Highway 7 was closed for several hours for the investigation but has since reopened. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is urged to contact the OPP or Crime Stoppers anonymously.