Woman, child dead in eastern P.E.I. highway accident

A 38-year-old woman and an eight-year-old girldied in a head-on collision in eastern P.E.I. Sunday afternoon.

RCMP Sgt. Leanne Butler said the accident, between a sedan and an SUV, happened at about 3 p.m. on Route 4 in Cardigan.

"A female and a child in the sedan were found to be deceased at the scene," said Butler.

"The occupant in the other vehicle does have serious injuries."

The driver of the SUV, the lone occupant of that vehicle, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, and was later airlifted to Halifax. The injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Police believe the SUVcrossed the centre line and struck the car in the oncoming lane.

"The SUV, who was travelling south at the time, appears to have gone into the other lane suddenly and the collision occurred head on," Butler said.

There was a witness to the accident, said Butler, and the investigation is continuing. Police are seeking further witnesses.

Route 4 was closed for the investigation of the accident until about midnight.

It was an unusually deadly weekend for vehicle accidents on P.E.I.

In the early morning hours on Sunday a 28-year-old man died when his ATV rolled over near Tignish.

On Saturday, a motorcycle driver died in Summersidein a collision with a car.

"It was a very tragic weekend in P.E.I. for sure," Butler said. "It's a lot of different incidents at the same time. It's traumatic."

Investigations are continuing in both of those incidents.

Classes cancelled

The French Language School Board said in a statement that classes at cole La-Belle-Cloche will be cancelled on Tuesday due to recent deaths in the community.

It said the school will be open from 12:30 p.m. and that all students are invited to come for counselling or to meet with friends.

"The CSLF offers its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, staff, students and all those involved in this tragic event," it said.