A woman is dead following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 354 in Kennetcook, N.S.
Police say the 50-year-old mother of four was driving her son and his friend to school when she collided head on with a Jeep shortly after 8 a.m. Monday.
The Selma woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two 14-year-old male passengers were taken to Colchester Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They have since been released.
The 23-year-old female driver of the Jeep was not injured. She was alone in the vehicle.
Police say it appears the driver of the Jeep crossed the centre line. Officers are investigating whether exhaustion may have been a factor in the crash.
“If you’re that tired, pull over and get some rest. We’ve seen over the years that driving while tired can be just as bad as driving while impaired in some cases,” says Enfield RCMP Sgt. Craig Burnett.
“I am not saying this is the case with this situation. This may have just been an unfortunate incident and it’s too early to say that 100 per cent was the cause.”
RCMP closed a section of Highway 354 while they investigated the crash and traffic was rerouted through Ettinger Road.
The victim worked for the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board but police say the collision was not related to a bus driver strike in the district. Investigators say the woman usually drove the teens to school on her way to work.
The school board is bringing grief counsellors into some of its schools to help staff cope with the tragic loss.
