A pedestrian was killed on Highway 50 in Gatineau, in the Ottawa region, shortly after midnight on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The crash happened at the level of boulevard La Vérendrye, and the highway was closed for several hours afterward.
What happened
According to Le Droit, the collision took place "peu après minuit, mardi", or shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said the pedestrian apparently ended up in the traffic lane before being struck by a vehicle. The pedestrian's death was confirmed at the scene.
TVA Gatineau reports the pedestrian was hit by two vehicles. Police have not released the pedestrian's name or age in the reports we reviewed.
Driver did not stay
The SQ said the driver of one of the vehicles involved reportedly did not stay at the scene. TVA Gatineau reports that police want to speak with the two drivers, a man and a woman, who stopped at the scene and then left.
Police have not said whether either driver has been identified, and they have not described the vehicles involved. Those details are not yet known.
Highway 50 reopens
Highway 50 was closed for several hours while police worked at the scene. Drivers who cross the Ottawa River region by Highway 50 should still watch for any lingering slowdowns near boulevard La Vérendrye, though the reports we reviewed do not mention any ongoing restrictions.
Who is investigating
The investigation is being run by the SQ Major Crimes Unit in collaboration with the Gatineau police service. The coroner's office is also involved. TVA Gatineau quotes the reporting as saying that "both the coroner's office and the SQ Major Crimes Unit, in collaboration with Gatineau Police Service, are investigating."
The cause of the collision has not been announced, and police have not said why the pedestrian was on the highway. The SQ's account so far is that the pedestrian apparently ended up in the traffic lane before being struck.
How to help
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the Sûreté du Québec at 819-770-9111. Police specifically want to hear from the two drivers who stopped at the scene and then left.
If you were travelling on Highway 50 near boulevard La Vérendrye around midnight on Tuesday and have dashcam footage or saw anything, that is the number to call.
What we still don't know
Several basic details have not been made public:
- The identity and age of the person who died
- Whether either driver has come forward
- What the vehicles involved looked like
- What led to the pedestrian being in the traffic lane
We will update this story if police release more information.
Sources: Le Droit, TVA Gatineau
