Saturday was a deadly day on the roads of eastern Ontario, with numerous fatal collisions, most of them with only one vehicle.
Ontario provincial police have reported five deaths as a result of vehicle accidents and Ottawa police have reported one.
Around 3 a.m., a driver died in a single-vehicle collision on Highway 174 just after separation 417-174. Ottawa police are investigating, but have not released any other details about the accident or the victim.
This comes after several other collisions in Ottawa last week. Ottawa police encourage drivers to be careful.
“Tragically, five people have died on the roads of Ottawa over the past week. Five families are suffering the loss of their loved ones,” police said in a tweet. “Please be careful on the roads. You need your full attention at all times.”
OPP-controlled roads suffered four collisions on Saturday.
“It was a very tragic weekend on the roads of eastern Ontario,” the OPP sergeant said. Erin Cranton in an email to CTV News. “We had four fatal collisions (Lanark, Frontenac, PEC and SD&G) and five fatalities.”
Around 6 a.m., OPP responded to a single-vehicle collision on Highway 401 between Dickinson Road and Upper Canada Road in South Stormont. The driver died and the passenger was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The deceased has not yet been identified.
At 12:52 p.m., police responded to a collision involving a driver and a cyclist on Highway 15 between Cunningham and Kingston Mills roads in the Kingston area. Cyclist Hajiasad Ahangarant, 90, was taken to hospital but later died.
At around 3:15 p.m., a 63-year-old motorcycle driver crashed and died on Highway 511 near Tatlock Road in Lanark Highlands Township. Police did not identify the driver beyond his age.
OPP later tweeted about a single-vehicle collision on County Road 23 in Prince Edward County in which two people were killed. The victims remain unidentified.
Each of these collisions is still under investigation.
Cranton said with the onset of summer, more people are traveling.
“There is an increase in traffic and people are going on holiday. Every driver can help make our roads safer by avoiding unnecessary risks, complying with traffic laws and having patience with those who share the road,” he said. Cranton, “traffic safety remains a top priority for the OPP and the hope is that everyone will reach their destination safely.
“Investigating fatal collisions is never an easy job. Investigators take their time and conduct thorough research.”
Officers are investigating a collision with a single vehicle that caused a death this morning around 3 p.m. The vehicle was traveling east to the Reg. Rd. 174 and the highway. 417 divided. Updates will follow
– OPS Operations (@DutyInspector) July 9, 2022
#LanarkOPP is investigating a single-vehicle collision with a motorcycle that occurred today at County Road 511, Lanark Highlands Twp. The 63-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. ^ ec pic.twitter.com/EQXTdNP8vS
– OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) July 10, 2022
#FrontenacOPP responded to a collision involving a motor vehicle and a bicycle on # Hwy15 between Cunningham Rd and Kingston Mills Rd. The person riding the bicycle was taken to hospital by ambulance, but was later pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing. ^ ec pic.twitter.com/1MUk1Q1EQV
– OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) July 10, 2022
Closure of Highway 401 #SDGOPP east and west between Dickinson Road and Upper Canada Road South Stormont Twp for a fatal motor vehicle collision investigation. Emergency diversion route (EDR) in place. Unknown reopening time, ^ sd pic.twitter.com/DuUh2wQ7un
– OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) July 9, 2022