A tragic two-vehicle collision near Waasis on Thursday night has left the Fredericton-area community mourning the death of a 23-year-old man from New Maryland. The fatal crash, which occurred along Route 7 near Waasis, prompted a major emergency response and the temporary closure of both lanes of the highway as investigators worked through the night to examine the scene.
The Oromocto detachment of the RCMP first alerted the public about the incident through social media Thursday evening, advising motorists to avoid the area due to a serious collision that had shut down traffic on Route 7. Authorities initially provided limited information, only confirming that emergency crews were responding to a major motor-vehicle accident and that drivers should expect delays or use alternate routes.
Further details were released Friday afternoon in an official RCMP statement, revealing that the collision involved two vehicles and resulted in the death of a young man from New Maryland.
According to police, the sequence of events began at approximately 9:40 p.m. on May 28, 2026, when RCMP officers received reports of a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction at a high rate of speed on Route 7 near Waasis. While officers were responding to the dangerous driving complaint, they were informed that a serious collision had already occurred.
When emergency responders arrived at the scene, they discovered the driver and sole occupant of the first vehicle—a 23-year-old man—suffering from what were described as life-threatening injuries. Paramedics quickly transported him to hospital for emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, police later confirmed that the young man died from his injuries at approximately 11:10 p.m.
The second vehicle involved in the collision was occupied by a single individual who initially received treatment at the scene for what appeared to be minor injuries before later being transported to hospital for additional care.
Investigators believe the crash occurred when the first vehicle, reportedly travelling the wrong way at a high speed, collided head-on with the second vehicle. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including what may have led the vehicle to travel in the wrong direction on the highway.
The collision scene drew a large response from multiple emergency and government agencies. Alongside RCMP officers, personnel from the Oromocto Fire Department, Ambulance New Brunswick, the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans all attended the scene. The RCMP forensic collision analysis team was also deployed to document evidence and reconstruct the events leading up to the crash.
In addition, representatives from the New Brunswick Coroner’s Office are assisting with the ongoing investigation as authorities continue gathering information related to the fatal collision.
News of the tragedy has deeply affected residents in New Maryland, Fredericton, Oromocto, and surrounding communities. Friends, family members, and local residents have expressed sorrow over the loss of a young life in such sudden and devastating circumstances. Many have also reflected on the dangers associated with high-speed and wrong-way driving incidents, which often leave little opportunity for other motorists to react or avoid impact.
The crash also serves as another reminder of the importance of road safety and awareness on New Brunswick highways, particularly during nighttime travel conditions when visibility can be reduced and reaction times become critical.
As the investigation remains active, police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the vehicle travelling the wrong way prior to the collision—or anyone with dashcam footage from the area around the time of the crash—to contact authorities.
The Fredericton-area community continues to grieve as loved ones remember the young man whose life was tragically cut short in the devastating Route 7 collision near Waasis.