Icy roads are being blamed for a collision near Villeneuve last Sunday, Jan. 6, that claimed the lives of two Westlock residents.
Morinville RCMP responded to the collision, roughly two kilometres south of Villeneuve on Highway 44, shortly before 1 p.m.
“A Dodge Caravan traveling northbound on Highway 44 … lost control and crossed the centre line and collided with a Kia SUV,” said Morinville RCMP Const. Yelena Avoine.
The 77-year-old female driver and lone occupant of the minivan and a 96-year-old female passenger of the southbound SUV were pronounced dead at the scene.
The remaining two occupants of the SUV, a 75-year-old male driver and a 64-year-old female passenger, were transported to hospital with undisclosed injuries.
All individuals involved in the collision are residents of the Westlock area.
Police are not releasing the identities of the deceased individuals, pending notification of next of kin.
A portion of the highway was closed for several hours as police investigated the collision.
“Speed and alcohol were both ruled out right away,” Avoine said. “The roads were really icy at the time of the collision.”
