Two teenagers were killed and one was seriously injured after a crash Monday night in northeastern New Brunswick that police believe was linked to driver speed.
Two 18-year-olds, both men, and a driver, 19, were in the vehicle when it crashed near the intersection of Route 370 and Côte Road in Haut-Sheila, about seven kilometers from Tracadie-Sheila.
No other vehicles were involved in the collision, RCMP said in a news release.
One of the 18-year-olds was from Chiasson Office, NB, and died at the scene, RCMP said.
The second passenger, from Paquetville, NB, was taken to hospital where he later died from his injuries.
The driver remains in hospital with serious and life-threatening injuries, RCMP said.
RCMP responded to the crash near the intersection of Route 370 and Côte Road in Haut-Sheila around 7 p.m. of Monday. (Google Maps)
“The collision is believed to have occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle which entered the ditch before rolling several times,” the statement said.
“Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.”
Sgt. Jocelyn LeBouthillier with the Tracadie RCMP detachment said speed is suspect because the crash happened on a somewhat sharp turn on eastbound Route 370 and the car rolled several times.
That stretch of road is not an extremely dangerous area, and there are signs warning of the upcoming sharp turn, LeBouthillier said.
He said criminal charges have not been ruled out, but the investigation is still in the early stages and police do not have enough details.
He said the RCMP will update the public in the coming days.
The release said members of the Tracadie Fire Department, New Brunswick Ambulance and an RCMP collision reconstruction worker were at the scene Monday.
“Autopsies will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death of the men,” the statement said.
Other deaths in recent days
The deaths come days after another fatality on the Acadian Peninsula, in which an 11-year-old boy was hit in the head by a scooter and later died of his injuries. A 15-year-old was arrested for his death. Three people have died following accidents in the province in the last three days. The first was a 37-year-old man who died after a two-vehicle crash in Florenceville in western New Brunswick.