3 people injured after head-on collision on Dartmouth highway

Three people have been injured in a head-on collision on a Dartmouth highway Saturday.

Halifax Regional Police responded to multiple reports of a red Mazda travelling on the wrong side of Highway 111 near exit 7 to Portland Street in Dartmouth around 4:10 p.m.

A few minutes later, callers reportedthe Mazda had collided with a blue Hyundai sedan.

Police say the driver of the Mazda, an 18-year-old man, tried to flee the scene, but was stopped by witnesses. The man was arrested for impaired driving and dangerous driving.

Police say he had minor injuries but was transported to hospital.

The people in the Hyundai, a26-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were also taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.

A close callminutes before

Alison Bezansonsaid she narrowly avoided colliding with the same red Mazda just minutes before. She had just changed lanes to pass another vehicle when she saw the red car heading toward her.

"I panicked," she told CBC. "I had a car that I was passing beside me and he was coming directly at me, not slowing down by any means."

Bezanson said some quickmanoeuvringby her and the driver beside her saved her from a head-on crash.

"When he passed, I was still straddling the middle line because it was either hit the car beside me or let him hit me head on. The car beside me sort of let off its gas, I think ... he was sort of over on the shoulder, the car that was letting me over."

The close call underscoredthe importance of being alert when behind the wheel, she said.

A section of Highway 111 was closed early Saturday evening but was reopened around 8 p.m.

The investigation is ongoing.