OPP release identities of Hwy 11 crash victims

Ontario Provincial Police Have released the names of five people who died in a collision on Hwy 11 in Gravenhurst Sunday afternoon.

Details are included in the following news released issued today by the OPP:
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Members of the Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle collision that has claimed 5 lives. Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2004 officers responded to the crash on Hwy 11 near Luigi Rd in the Town of Gravenhurst.

The investigation has determined that the driver of a 2004 Buick Century was travelling the wrong direction on the highway.

The car was heading southbound in the northbound passing lane at a speed in excess of 100 km/hr and collided head-on with a northbound 1997 Honda CRV. Minutes prior to the collision reports were received concerning the southbound Buick. The investigation revealed the car had been travelling the wrong direction on Hwy # 11 a distance in excess of 10 km and was initially observed north of the Muskoka Road 41 (Doe Lake Rd) interchange in Gravenhurst.

Both vehicles were demolished in the crash. There were no survivors. The lone driver of the Buick, 44-year-old Cynthia Oster of Utterson, was pronounced dead at the scene. A deceased dog was located in her car.
In the second vehicle pronounced dead at the scene were the driver 69-year-old George Bell, his partner 58-year-old Vivian McKay, 68-year-old Carolyn Evans and husband 72 year-old Donald Evans. All are Huntsville residents. A post-mortem is scheduled in Toronto this morning on the drivers.

During the investigation the northbound lane of Hwy # 11 was closed for approximately 3 ½ hours and re-opened at 7:35 pm. Police are continuing the investigation.