On Saturday night, a devastating crash on Highway 101 in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley has left five people dead and one person in critical condition. The collision occurred on the twinned section of the highway between exits 7 and 8 near Falmouth at around 11:12 p.m. AT.

According to Staff Sgt. Maj. Deepak Prasad of the RCMP, two vehicles were involved in the crash, both travelling eastbound. Tragically, the occupants of a Honda Civic, a 43-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman from Falmouth, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Three individuals in the Nissan Sentra also lost their lives in the collision. A 45-year-old woman from Oxford, N.S., and a 58-year-old man from Nappan, N.S., were declared deceased on site. Additionally, a 50-year-old male passenger from Oxford succumbed to his injuries after being transported to the hospital. A 29-year-old male passenger from B.C. was airlifted to the hospital and is currently in critical condition.

The cause of the crash remains unclear, and authorities are urging any witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage to come forward and assist with their investigation. The West Hants RCMP detachment can be contacted at 902-798-2207.

Following the accident, the eastbound lanes in the vicinity were closed for several hours but have since been reopened to traffic.