(ATIKOKAN, ON) – On July 25, 2014 at 5:22pm, officers of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were called to investigate a head on collision on Hwy 11 approximately 10kms west of the 11B (Atikokan turn off) intersection.
OPP investigation revealed that an eastbound vehicle driven by a 49-year-old male from Fort Frances crossed the center line and struck a westbound vehicle occupied by two females from Atikokan. The collision resulted in one vehicle partially blocking the highway and the other rolled down the embankment into the ditch where it caught fire. All parties were injured in the collision.
The driver of the vehicle in the ditch pulled herself free and assisted the other occupant from the burning vehicle. Three males from Thunder Bay assisted the women up to the road just moments before the vehicle exploded. The males from Thunder Bay then assisted the other injured party from his vehicle.
Both drivers were airlifted to Thunder Bay with serious injuries.
Examination of the scene was completed by an OPP Supervisor and a Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO).
Further information will be released as it becomes available.