A 40-year-old man has died after the RV he was driving crashed onto a ferry where Quebec's Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence on Monday afternoon.

His only passenger, a 40-year-old woman, remains in hospital in critical condition, according to police.

The ferry connects Tadoussac, a small community about 215 kilometres north of Quebec City, to Baie-Sainte-Catherine, on the southern side of the Saguenay. Motorists boarding the ferry on the Tadoussac side must drive down a long, steep hill.

The boarding ramp was being raised when the accident occurred, around 12:45 p.m. ET, said Yves Gauthier, spokesperson for the Tadoussac fire department.

The RV went up and over the ramp and landed on the ferry, he explained. The ferry then returned to the Tadoussac dock.

The man, who was from Laval and woman, who is from Lévis, were the only people in the RV, according to the Sûreté du Québec. Both were taken the hospital, where police say the man died hours later.

SQ spokesperson Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu said it appears a mechanical problem led to the crash, which is under investigation.

The boarding ramp was being raised when the crash occurred. (Submitted by Cindy Desbiens)

Like a movie, witness says

Cindy Desbiens was on the ferry with her two children and saw the crash happen from the top level.

She said she immediately grabbed her kids by their arms and backed up into the boat, fearing an explosion.

"It was like being in a movie. It [seemed] impossible that something like this would happen."

Highway 138 has since reopened and limited ferry service has resumed.