KENORA, Ont. -- A Manitoba man is dead following a fatal highway crash near this Northwestern Ontario town, police confirmed Thursday.
Officials with the OPP say officers are at the scene on Highway 17 near Percy Lake, east of Kenora, following the crash that took place just before midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Benjamin Bueckert, 57, of Gladstone, Mann., has been identified as the victim.
The highway was closed for several hours following the crash, but police say the road is now partially open to traffic.
Police say three tractor trailer units were involved in the crash. Police believe an eastbound vehicle collided with a westbound vehicle. The third vehicle involved, which was also travelling west, ended up in the north ditch.
Kenora firefighters extracted a male driver from the vehicle that had been travelling eastbound.
The driver was sent to the Lake of the Woods District Hospital via an ambulance with serious injuries.
The passenger of the same vehicle was also transported to the hospital, but later died from his injuries.
The occupants of the other vehicles escaped the crash without injuries.
A post mortem examination for the victim has been scheduled for Nov. 28 at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.
The investigation into the crash continues.
