Highway 17 reopens after fatal collision near Raith leaves three dead

THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Highway 17 has reopened after a fatal collision involving two commercial motor vehicles near Raith, west of Thunder Bay, left three people dead. The crash and long closure drew attention across Northwestern Ontario because the route is a critical corridor for freight, regional travel and supply movement between communities.

OPP continue investigation into deadly crash

Ontario Provincial Police say the collision happened at about 3:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 16, 2026, on Highway 17 near Raith. Police say three people were pronounced dead at the scene.

Their identities have not been released as next of kin notifications continue.
The Thunder Bay and Shabaqua detachments are leading the investigation with assistance from the OPP North West Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement team and OPP collision reconstructionists.

Highway reopened Friday morning

The fatal collision forced a lengthy closure of Highway 17 between Ignace and the Highway 11 turnoff in Shabaqua. In its latest update, OPP said the highway had reopened by Friday morning, restoring traffic on one of the region’s most important east-west transportation links.

For Thunder Bay and surrounding communities, closures on this stretch of highway can quickly affect commercial trucking, deliveries, cross-region travel and access to services, especially when alternate routes are limited or lengthy.

Environment ministry assisting with spill response

Police say the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks attended the scene to assist with the investigation and remediation of a load spill. OPP said the spill does not pose a significant risk to the public.

That detail is important in Northwestern Ontario, where collisions involving commercial vehicles can raise immediate concerns about environmental damage, hazardous materials and possible impacts on nearby land and waterways.

Police ask for information

Investigators have not released further details about what caused the collision. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online through Ontario Crime Stoppers.