Quebec provincial police have a man in custody in connection with the discovery of the bodies of a woman and a child in an abandoned car this morning.

The Sûreté du Québec arrested a man in his 30s early this afternoon after deploying a helicopter and police dogs to search the wooded area along Highway 132, where police found the abandoned car around 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

Sgt Richard Gagné said the suspect, who is believed to have been driving the car, was arrested in Saint Florence, about 10 kilometres north of where the car was discovered.

No further details were released.

Investigators searched a wooded area near the abandoned car for a suspect Tuesday morning. (Radio-Canada)

Car travelled almost 700 km in 1 day

The car found abandoned was initially reported stolen in Laval on Monday before it was discovered later in the evening in Routhierville, in eastern Quebec, near the Gaspé peninsula.

Police found the woman's body in the car and a child under the age of 10 in the trunk.

The car is a turquoise Dodge Shadow, model year 1994. Police said it was involved in a hit and run on Monday around 6:30 p.m.

Police are referring to the investigation as a double homicide, but would not confirm the causes of death. Police said there is a strong possibility the woman and child were related.

Police are asking anyone with more information about the vehicle and its whereabouts leading up to the incident to phone 1-800-659-4264.