A Canadian soldier from Ontario, his wife and baby son are dead after a multi-vehicle accident in South Carolina over the weekend.

The crash occurred Saturday night in the northbound lanes of what local media reports describe as a busy portion of the I-95.

The accident involved five vehicles, including two tractor trailers, local police said. Footage from the scene showed multiple police cruisers and fire trucks at the scene.

The accident shut down northbound traffic on the interstate for about 12 hours.

The Ontario victims have been identified as Pte. Jeremiah Cross, 34, of Garrison Petawawa; his wife Crystal Cross, 32; and their son Grayson Cross, 7 months.

Cross was on leave and the family was driving back from a vacation in Florida with friends, who were travelling in a separate vehicle.

Maj. Brian Lepack, acting commanding officer of 2 Service Battalion at Garrison Petawawa, said Cross joined the Canadian Forces nearly three years ago. He was training to be a vehicle technician, and was well-liked at the base.

“We all share in the loss of this fine young man and his family. Our focus now is on supporting Jeremiah’s family, and all members of our unit,” Lepack said in a statement.

“The death of a soldier at any time is difficult but this accident, which claimed the life of this young soldier, his wife and young child, is a tragedy which affects us all whether we are military or civilian.”

Two Pennsylvania residents, 51-year-old Jacqueline McCann and Barry Himes, 52, were also killed.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.