Three people are dead after a vehicle struck a tree and burst into flames early Monday morning in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Niagara Regional Police spokesperson Const. Rich Hingley told The Lake Report that due to the severity of the injuries and damage, the identities of those involved have not yet been confirmed.
The single-vehicle crash happened around 3 a.m. on Queenston Road near Concession 6 Road, said Stephanie Sabourin, spokesperson for the regional police.
The initial investigation found that a vehicle left the road, hit a tree and caught fire.
Despite the efforts of officers and emergency crews, the vehicle was “quickly engulfed in flames,” Sabourin said, and all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims died inside the vehicle, said Hingley.
When asked for an update in the investigation on Wednesday, Sabourin said, “Given the severity of this particular collision, the identification process is more time-consuming than usual.”
Detectives from the regional police’s collision reconstruction unit and the forensic services unit responded to the scene and are now handling the investigation.
They are working to identify the victims and notify their family members or persons closest to them. Several roads in the area are closed, which has resulted in traffic congestion.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, said Sabourin.
Police declined to comment on the victims’ identities, ages, or hometowns, citing the ongoing investigation.
In a statement from the Town of NOTL issued this afternoon, Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa called the crash “a heartbreaking tragedy” and said the town’s thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the deceased.
“While the cause of the collision remains under investigation, we know that traffic safety is an ongoing concern for many in our community,” he said.
The town’s media release states that “early indications” suggest “excessive speed” as a possible factor in the collision, but Hingley said it’s just one of several possibilities under review — and won’t be confirmed until investigators can determine it played a role.
To determine speed after a crash, he said investigators generally look at things like the length of skid marks, measurements of debris distribution, and data from a vehicle’s onboard computer — if available. These indicators vary based on the vehicle’s size and weight.
The vehicle was gas-powered — just one of many factors being examined, like every other aspect of the crash, Hingley said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1009504.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Niagara at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppersniagara.ca. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for details that lead to an arrest.
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