Gatineau Man Dies in Highway 401 Crash Near Gananoque, Transport Truck Involved
A 51-year-old man from Gatineau has been pronounced dead following a serious collision on Highway 401 west of Gananoque late Wednesday night. The fatal crash involved a pickup truck driven by the Gatineau resident and a transport truck.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The Ontario Provincial Police reported that the collision occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, on the eastbound portion of Highway 401. According to police, the pickup truck was struck by the transport truck in the incident.
The victim was transported to a regional trauma center where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the transport truck fortunately sustained no injuries in the crash. Police confirmed that neither vehicle contained any passengers at the time of the collision.
Police Investigation and Highway Closure
The Leeds County detachment of the OPP is leading the investigation into this tragic incident with assistance from the OPP's East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement team. As part of the investigation process, Highway 401 remained closed for approximately eight hours following the crash before reopening on Thursday morning.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that might assist their investigation. Specifically, they are requesting anyone with dashcam footage or other relevant information to contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 and reference incident number E260257199.
Ongoing Investigation
The OPP has not released the identities of either driver involved in the collision as their investigation continues. Police are working to determine the exact circumstances that led to this fatal crash on one of Ontario's busiest highways.
This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of road safety, particularly on major highways like the 401 which experiences heavy commercial and passenger vehicle traffic. The investigation remains active as authorities work to piece together the events that led to this loss of life.
