2 dead, 3 injured after separate crashes on Highway 104

Nova Scotia RCMP say poor visibility due to weather was likely a factor in a pair of fatal collisions Thursday morning in Antigonish County.

Two men were killed and three people taken to hospital in the two head-on crashes, which occurred hours apart on Highway 104.

"This morning the weather certainly would've been a factor," saidCpl. Guillaume Tremblay, a spokesperson for RCMP.

"There was definitely some water accumulation across our highways which also leads to reduced visibility."

Police, fire, and ambulance crews responded to the first crash around 6:30 a.m. local time in Afton.

Upon arrival, officers learned that anSUV and a car travelling in opposite directions had collided.

Police said the driver of the car, a 53-year-old Monastery man, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the SUVa 70-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman, both from Frankvillesuffered serious injuries and were transported to hospital by ambulance.

Second head-on crash

Hours later, at 10:30 a.m. local time, emergency crews responded to another fatal crash in Havre Boucherinvolving two SUVs.

The vehicles were headed in opposite directions when they crashed, said RCMP.

One driver, a 32-year-old Kings County man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other SUV, a 73-year-old Halifax man, suffered serious injuries andwas transported to hospital by ambulance.