One dead after head-on collision on Highway 40 East

A head-on collision leaves one person dead and closes Highway 40 eastbound at the Côte-Vertu exit in Montreal. (Anastasia Dextrene/CTV News)

Quebec provincial police (SQ) are investigating after a head-on collision left one person dead on Highway 40 eastbound on Monday morning.

The crash, reported around 9:30 a.m., led to the closure of Highway 40 eastbound at the Côte-Vertu exit.

“According to initial information, a vehicle with a single occupant was reportedly travelling westbound in the eastbound lane. For reasons that are under investigation, the vehicle was driving against the flow of traffic,” said a Sûreté du Québec spokesperson.

The vehicles collided with a semi-trailer truck. The driver of the truck, a man in his 60s, was reportedly uninjured.

“The death of the driver of the first vehicle was confirmed at the scene. It is possible that this was a deliberate act.”

Investigators are currently on the scene to clarify the causes and circumstances surrounding the incident and police are asking drivers to avoid the area.

The investigation is ongoing in collaboration with the Quebec coroner's office.