Fatal Collision That Closed Highway 17 Under Investigation
31 March 2026
(LAURENTIAN VALLEY TWP, ON) – The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision involving a passenger car and an SUV in the Township of Laurentian Valley (TLV).
On Monday March 30, 2026, at approximately 11:35 a.m., UOV OPP officers, Renfrew County paramedics and TLV firefighters responded to the two-vehicle collision on Paul Martin Drive near Highway 17. Preliminary investigation has found the vehicles were travelling in opposite directions on Paul Martin Drive when the collision occurred. As a result of the collision the driver of the passenger car, a 94-year-old man from Ottawa, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the SUV, a 32-year-old from TLV, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle.
The investigation is continuing in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death. An OPP Collision Reconstructionist and Technical Collision Investigator are also assisting with the investigation.
Due to the collision a section of Paul Marin Drive was closed for several hours. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP at 613-732-3332 or Pembroke/Renfrew County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at www.valleytips.ca.
