Two people are dead as the result of a collision between a pickup and transport truck on the Burin Peninsula Highway before dawn this morning.

RCMP say the two men in the pickup, aged 33 and 60, died at the scene.

The driver of the transport truck was sent to the Burin Peninsula Health Centre for treatment of minor injuries.

The crash happened this morning around 6:00 near the Red Harbour exit. Residents indicate that road conditions in the area were poor at the time.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Meanwhile, the transportation minister says he will follow-up regarding this morning’s fatal crash.

John Abbott says highway crews have been gearing up for the winter season. But he says he’ll look into whether road conditions at the time of the collision were a factor.

“If we could’ve been or should’ve been out earlier then we’ll take that in and then look at our operations to make sure that doesn’t happen on a go-forward basis for sure.”

However, Abbott says around-the-clock highway snow clearing isn’t on. “We don’t commit to 24/7 because we don’t think that is needed.”