A 54-year-old man is dead and two others are injured after an early Wednesday morning crash at the intersection of Bank Street and Laurier Avenue West.

Paramedics say they responded to the intersection of Bank Street and Laurier Avenue West just before 4 a.m. for a two-vehicle crash.

When they arrived, paramedics found two dark-coloured sedans had collided.

The driver of a black Kia was trapped and firefighters were forced to extricate him. He had no vital signs and was taken to hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at hospital.

Man handcuffed at scene

Two men in their early 20s, who were in the Honda Civic that crashed into the Kia, suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

Resident Pierrette Andrews told CBC News one of those men was put into handcuffs at the scene, but police said no charges have been laid.

Andrews said she left her home nearby to find out what happened after she was awoken by a large bang.

"I came out of the apartment building and I walked over here and I saw two cars up in smoke. By that time, the police were there and a young lad was handcuffed immediately and put into the police car. The other young lad was sitting on the side of the road." she told the CBC's Kristy Kirkup.

Traffic congestion

Police closed Laurier between Kent and O’Connor streets and Bank between Gloucester and Slater streets for the investigation. The streets reopened late Wednesday afternoon.

The area of Bank Street and Laurier Avenue West closed down as SIU investigators analyzed the fatal crash scene. (Kristy Kirkup/CBC)

The SIU investigates all cases involving police where there is a serious injury, death or sexual assault.

The SIU said the early stages of the investigation show a police cruiser heading east on Laurier decided to follow the Honda Civic, which was heading in the opposite direction.

Shortly after, the Honda Civic being followed crashed into the Kia, killing the driver of the Kia. The SIU has assigned four investigators, two forensic investigators and a collision reconstruction expert to analyze the crash.