Driver going wrong way on Highway 417 dies in early morning crash | CBC News

· Posted: Apr 18, 2024 6:24 AM EDT | Last Updated: April 19

A driver heading down Highway 417 in the wrong direction died in a crash early Thursday morning that shut down the highway at Innes Road, blocking one of the main ways drivers get from the east to central Ottawa.

Police received a call shortly after 3:30 a.m. for the two-car collision near the Aviation Parkway.

According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), one of the vehicles was travelling east in the westbound lanes.

"Our investigation so far has found that the driver of the vehicle that was going the wrong way is deceased," said Bill Dickson, who speaks on behalf of the OPP, in an interview with CBC.

"Two other people from the other vehicle had to be extricated by firefighters."

Too soon to speculate

Those two people — a man and a woman — were taken to hospital in serious but non life-threatening condition, according to paramedics.

The other driver was declared dead at the scene. OPP said in an evening news release the unnamed victim was age 37 and from Ottawa.

Dickson said it's too early to speculate on why the vehicle was going the wrong way down Highway 417.

He said the westbound lanes, which were closed for several hours, have reopened.