By Angela Gemmill

OPP now say two people are dead following yesterday’s multi-vehicle collision, near North Bay.

Investigators say an eastbound car veered across the centre line and struck an oncoming van yesterday afternoon along Highway 17 East, 10 kilometres West of North Bay.

A third vehicle struck debris.

The driver of the van, 58-year-old Dorothy McLeod of Garden Village died at the scene.

The 65-year-old driver of the first car, Jean Pierre Duclos of St Mathieu du Parc, Quebec later died in hospital.

Three other people were taken to North Bay hospital with injuries.

Investigators say roads were wet at the time of the collision and the sky was cloudy.

By Angela Gemmill 

Air Canada Jazz says thick fog is effecting flights at the Greater Sudbury Airport.

Travellers should call 1-888-422-7533 to check on the status of their flights.

Officials expect the problem to last most of the day.

By Gary Beech 

Five straight losses for the Sudbury Wolves after an embarrassing 7-1 loss in the Soo last night.

Brett Thompson scored three against his former club and 16-year old goalie Matt Murray had another great night with 43 saves for the Greyhounds.

The Soo scored four of its goals on the power play while Sudbury went O-for-5.

The Wolves are in Brampton Sunday afternoon.

By Angela Gemmill

The Greater Sudbury Police K-9 unit was brought in to help locate a robbery suspect in Hanmer, but the man remains at large.

Investigators say a man used a long barreled shotgun to threaten the staff at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Municipal Road 80, just after 11 last night.

The suspect removed items from the store and fled on foot.

He was wearing a grey hoodie and ski mask and carried a duffle bag.

Contact Greater Sudbury Police or Crime Stoppers if you have any information.

By Angela Gemmill

Revellers will be ringing in the new year tonight and the City of Greater Sudbury wants it to be a safe celebration.

The city is offering free transit rides tonight between 10pm and 3:30am.

For the remainder of tomorrow the buses will follow a Sunday schedule.

The festive RIDE program by Greater Sudbury Police will be boosted with extra manpower making sure drivers are not impaired.

Several checkpoints will be set up around the city.

Operation Red Nose is also another option, as a huge fleet of volunteers will help get motorists and their vehicles home safe for free, however donations are welcome.

Call 675-NOSE at least 45 minutes before you leave your party tonight.

The are no reservations permitted on New Year’s Eve.

Other options include calling a cab, designating a sober driver, staying overnight or walking, if its not too far.

By David Lacasse & Angela Gemmill

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has released the name of the man shot and killed at a Pine Street residence early yesterday morning.

46-year-old Marcel Tranchemontagne of Sudbury was involved in an interaction with two Greater Sudbury Police officers and suffered a fatal gun shot wound.

Police were at the scene after a 9-1-1 call about a homicide at a 168 Pine Street residence.

After the first incident officers found the body of a second male, Tranchemontagne’s roommate.

His name has not been released to the public, but police say he is 39 years old.

The SIU is looking into Tranchemontagne’s death, while Sudbury Police investigate the other death.

By Angela Gemmill & David Lacasse

 *****Update*****

One person is dead after a three vehicle collision on Highway 17 East, just west of North Bay.

OPP closed the highway for over six hours Thursday when a van and a car collided head on and a third vehicle struck the other two, just after 12-noon, near the scenic lookout.

The driver of the van died at the scene.

Her name has not been released.

The highway reopened to traffic around 7pm Thursday evening.

************

OPP have closed Highway 17 East near North Bay after a three vehicle collision.

Few details are known at this time but the closure is near Trap and Skeet Road and is expected to last several hours.

There are no detours available at this time.

We will keep you up to date as more details become available.

By Angela Gemmill

Greater Sudbury Police won’t comment on a second death investigation from Pine Street early yesterday morning.

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit is currently probing a firearms death of a 46-year-old man in which two officers from the local force are linked to.

Once police were able to enter the home they discovered a second body, the man’s roommate.

Greater Sudbury Police will confirm they are looking into this second death, but say they will not comment or release details until the SIU investigation on the first incident is complete.

The SIU can’t say how long its investigation will last.

By Angela Gemmill

Nickel Belt’s MPP is amazed that everyone -from politicians, health care workers and mental health patients and their families- all agree on improvements needed in mental health.

France Gelinas, who is also the NDP Health Critic, was commenting on the recent report by a Health Canada expert advisory panel looking into mental health issues in Ontario.

She agrees with the report, which calls for the current twelve ministries offering mental health services, to join into one distinct and easy system to navigate.

Gelinas says those with mental illnesses often only get care and treatment once they’re picked up by police, go through the justice system, convicted of an offence and then finally provided treatment.

Gelinas also wants to see a provincial mental health agency which coordinates services and treatment, similar the Cancer Care Ontario.

She also wants to see more financial investments in community-based mental health and addiction services.

Action on a 10-year plan will begin in the spring.

By Angela Gemmill 

The 27-year-old Sudbury man at the centre of a bomb scare on Poplar Street Christmas Eve has been formally charged.

Greater Sudbury Police were forced to detonate a pipe bomb Friday afternoon after a threatening complaint.

The suspect underwent a mental health assessment in hospital following the incident.

Aaron Kuchma faces a dozen charges which include Threatening to Cause Bodily Harm, Explosive-Intent to Cause Bodily Harm, and Making or Possessing Explosives for an Unlawful Purpose.