Ottawa police are searching for a dark-coloured SUV with front-end damage after a collision that killed a 21-year-old woman early Friday morning in the city's south end.
What happened
The collision happened at approximately 5:56 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the intersection of West Hunt Club and Merivale roads. The 21-year-old woman died in hospital.
Police have not released the woman's name.
What police are looking for
Investigators with the Ottawa Police Service's Fatal Collision Investigation Unit say they are looking for a dark-coloured SUV with front-end damage. Anyone who may have seen the vehicle, or who has dashcam, surveillance or doorbell camera footage from the area around the time of the crash, is asked to come forward.
Residents with information can contact police at 613-236-1222, ext. 2345, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
A difficult year on Ottawa's roads
This death adds to what has already been a deadly year for traffic fatalities in Ottawa. The woman's death was among 26 traffic-related fatalities recorded in the city so far in 2026, a total that has already exceeded all of 2025, when 23 people died in traffic collisions across Ottawa.
The early-morning timing of Friday's crash, just before 6 a.m., falls during a period when traffic volumes are lower but visibility can still be poor.
What happens next
The Fatal Collision Investigation Unit's appeal for dashcam and doorbell footage is a standard step in hit-and-run cases, where identifying a fleeing vehicle often depends on footage from homes and businesses near the scene rather than police cameras alone. No arrests have been announced, and police have not said whether they have identified a suspect vehicle beyond the general description of a dark-coloured SUV with front-end damage.
Ottawa police have not provided an update on the investigation beyond the initial appeal for witnesses. Anyone with dashcam, surveillance or doorbell footage from the West Hunt Club and Merivale area around 5:56 a.m. on Friday is encouraged to contact investigators, even if they are unsure whether what they saw is relevant.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen (via Yahoo News Canada)
