2 killed in 'horific' head-on collision on Moncton highway

Two people are dead following a crash on a highway just east of downtown Moncton on Sunday evening.

An RCMP release said they believe a 32-year-old woman died as her vehicle travelled the wrong way on Highway 15 in Moncton and struck another vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle, a 43-year-old man, also died.

Two passengers in the first vehicle were taken to hospital with minor injuries, while two passengers from the second vehicle were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, the RCMP said.

Police were called at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, the release said.

RCMP did not respond to a request from CBC New Brunswick for more information on Monday afternoon. But Codiac RCMP Supt. Benoit Jolette briefly spoke to Moncton city council on Monday evening and called it a "horrific collision."

"We're still investigating the incident, however the highway was closed for several hours," Jolette said. "There were several injuries and fatalities."

The release did not say the exact location of the collision, but alerts posted to social media said RCMP had closed Highway 15 between Harrisville Boulevard and Lewisville Road.

Police did not announce the road had reopened until about 9 a.m. on Monday, approximately 15 hours later.

Moncton Fire Department, Ambulance New Brunswick, the Coroner's office and an RCMP crash reconstructionist were also at the scene.

The release did not say what factors police believe led to the collision.