A 52-year-old man has died following an accident involving an ambulance and an SUV last night in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

The accident happened near the corner of Hébert Boulevard and 5th avenue.

Images from the scene show the ambulance with its front end shorn off, its doors ripped off and the windshield smashed. The SUV had its front end smashed in and one of the tires ripped off the rim.

The SUV had its front end smashed in and one of the tires ripped off the rim. (Simon-Marc Charron/CBC) Quebec provincial police Sgt. Claude Denis said the vehicles collided head-on at about 7:30 p.m. last night.

The ambulance was on its way to an emergency call and it appears the setting sun might have played a role in the crash.

"The investigation shows that the SUV driver changed lanes, possibly after being dazzled by the sun," he said.

Denis said the driver was pronounced dead in hospital.

The two passengers were treated for serious but non life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the ambulance was also treated for serious injuries.