Two women are dead and a man has been airlifted to hospital, following a head-on crash in rural south Ottawa.
Police say the collision happened just before 7 a.m. on Thursday, south of Metcalfe on Dalmeny Road near Swale Road.
Insp. John Medeiros says an SUV was travelling westbound on the road, when it tried to pass a vehicle.
Medeiros says when the SUV went into the eastbound lane, it slammed into an oncoming car with two women inside.
The women, ages 40 and 67, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Medeiros.
Four people in the SUV were also injured and one of the male passengers was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
Medeiros says a third car was also involved because the driver swerved to avoid the crash, and went sailing into the ditch.
"This morning the roads were wet but we don't know if that was a factor or not," says Medeiros. "It is a bit premature to determine exactly what transpired."
Medeiros says the Ottawa Police collision investigations unit will examine the vehicles at the scene and interview witnesses to determine what happened.
The identities of the two women killed in the crash have not been released.