Two men dead after minivan and passenger bus collide on highway north of Fort McMurray
Two men are dead after a minivan rear-ended a passenger bus Sunday on Highway 63, 20 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
The minivan was travelling south on Highway 63 from the Noralta Lodge exit at about 5 p.m. when it rear-ended a Diversified bus at the top of Super Test Hill, Wood Buffalo RCMP said in a news release on Monday.
Both men in the minivan were killed, said police.
The driver has been identified as a 36-year-old man. The passenger wasn't carrying any identification. However, police said with help from the public, the male passenger has also been identified. Their names are not being released.
Weather and alcohol appear to be factors in the collision, RCMP said.
"Lately we've been having above-zero temperatures," said Cpl. Teri-Ann Deobald. "After the temperature drops to below zero, the rain turns into snow and we do have some freezing rain in-between that which causes black ice."
An advisory, warning of poor road conditions, had been issued around 5 p.m. on Sunday, said Deobald.
The driver and 11 passengers on the bus have not reported any injuries to police.
Traffic was down to one lane for several hours while police investigated the collision.
