(THUNDER BAY, ON) On Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at approximately 5:40 am, Officers from the Armstrong and Thunder Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a road wash out on Highway 527, approximately 1 kilometre (km) south of Kab River Bridge. Officers also responded to a serious motor vehicle collision that occurred on Highway 527 at the site of the wash out.
A vehicle was north bound on Highway 527 when a section of Highway 527 gave way as the driver drove over / past the area. Shortly after, a second north bound vehicle approached the wash out. That driver did not observe the section of road had washed away, subsequently drove into the section of road that had washed away, and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the initial vehicle was transported by ambulance to Armstrong Nursing Station with non-life threatening injuries.
Officers from Armstrong and Thunder Bay OPP as well as an OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigator remain on scene.
Highway 527 is closed approximately 20 kms south of Gull Bay First Nation, as well as closed at Highway 811 approximately 160 kms north of Highway 11/17 until further notice.
The investigation is continuing.