Update 9:42 a.m. Friday: O.P.P. release hometown of victims. Read that story here.
Update 12:09 a.m. Friday: O.P.P. report that both eastbound and westbound lanes reopened.
Update 9:20 p.m. Thursday: O.P.P. say one eastbound lane is open at McConnell Avenue. Westbound lanes remain closed.
CORNWALL – Two people are dead and a third is in grave condition in hospital after a fiery rollover crash on Highway 401 between two Cornwall interchanges.
The crash happened around 4:20 p.m. on the westbound side between McConnell Avenue and Boundary Road when an SUV entered the ditch and rolled before bursting into flames.
Provincial police say two people in the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene.
A third was rushed to hospital by Cornwall-SDG Paramedic Services in life-threatening condition.
In addition to putting out the vehicle fire, Cornwall Fire Services also had to put out a grass fire after it spread from the sport utility vehicle to other areas of the ditch.
A section of Highway 401 between McConnell Avenue and Boundary Road has been closed in both directions with detours in place. There is no estimated time of reopening.
Provincial police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash cam footage to call them at 1-888-310-1122.