A 56-year-old woman from Charlottetown died Friday night after a two-vehicle collision on Route 15 in Portage, N.B., according to the New Brunswick RCMP.
The crash involved an SUV and a van. Shediac RCMP officers responded at about 8 p.m. The woman was the only person inside the SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the van was also occupied by its driver alone. That driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries. The RCMP did not provide further information about the nature of those injuries.
Police account of the collision
Investigators believe the van was travelling westbound when it moved across the centre line and struck the SUV travelling in the opposite direction.
That account remains part of an active investigation. The RCMP have not released information explaining why the van crossed the centre line, and the circumstances leading up to the impact have not been fully established.
| Known detail | Information released by police |
|---|---|
| Location | Route 15 in Portage, N.B. |
| Time of response | About 8 p.m. Friday |
| Vehicles | One SUV and one van |
| Fatality | 56-year-old woman from Charlottetown |
| Other driver | Treated for minor injuries |
Collision reconstructionist attended
A collision reconstructionist attended the scene as part of the police response. The specialist’s involvement indicates that investigators are examining the crash in detail, including the movement of the vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the impact.
The RCMP have not said when the investigation will be completed. They also have not released additional details about the vehicles, road conditions, the identities of the drivers beyond the deceased woman’s age and home community, or whether any charges are being considered.
What remains unknown
Police have not described the extent of the damage, identified the precise section of Route 15 involved or said whether anyone else was present at the scene. The information released so far confirms that both vehicles had only one occupant.
The woman’s name has not been included in the information provided by the RCMP. Her family and community in Charlottetown are facing the loss, while the driver of the van was receiving care for minor injuries after the collision.
Investigation continues
The fatal crash is now being reviewed by the Shediac RCMP with assistance from the collision reconstructionist. That work will help police establish a fuller account of what happened before the SUV and van collided.
For now, the central facts released by investigators are that the crash occurred Friday evening on Route 15 in Portage, that the van is believed to have crossed the centre line, and that the SUV’s sole occupant died at the scene. The van driver survived with minor injuries.
The RCMP said the investigation remains ongoing. No further conclusions can be drawn from the police account until that work is complete.
- The collision happened at about 8 p.m. Friday on Route 15 in Portage.
- A 56-year-old Charlottetown woman, the sole occupant of the SUV, died at the scene.
- The lone van driver suffered minor injuries, and a collision reconstructionist attended.
