Two people are dead after a car crossed the median on the Inland Island Highway Thursday night and struck another vehicle.

Police say a car was travelling southbound when it struck a minivan that was equipped with a wheelchair ramp.

It happened around 6 p.m., south of Buckley Bay. 

The 80-year-old woman driving the southbound car died at the scene.

One of the people travelling in the van died in hospital and the second occupant was injured, the extent of their injuries is unknown. 

Deep Bay’s fire chief says it’s a harrowing reminder on a dangerous stretch of road.

“The number of accidents that we’ve seen since they raised the speed limit up here on the highway has increased,” said George Lenz. “Wet roads are just as hazardous as snowy roads if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

The head-on collision shutdown the northbound lanes of the highway for nearly five hours.

Investigators are trying to determine why the car crossed the median.