At approximately 4:00 a.m. on July 7, 2019, Gander RCMP received a report of a vehicle fully engulfed in flames on the Trans-Canada Highway just west of Gander.
Officers arrived at the scene of a two vehicle head-on collision between a pickup truck and an SUV. Gander Fire/Rescue confirmed the driver of the SUV, a 65-year-old man, and front passenger, a 63-year-old woman, both from Lewisporte, were deceased. The two surviving passengers in the vehicle were transported to hospital with serious injuries.
The driver, and lone occupant of the truck, a 20-year-old man from Gander, was transported to hospital. A blood demand was made and a sample collected for analysis to determine if impairment was a factor.
An RCMP Traffic Analyst attended the scene. East District General Investigation Section have assumed leadership of the investigation, which is ongoing.