OTTAWA, Ont. — A truck driver was airlifted and one man died after a horrible, fiery head-on crash yesterday morning on Hwy. 7 near Dwyer Hill Rd.

The crash occurred at about 9:30 a.m. as a Chrysler, a pickup truck and a transport truck were all westbound. The Chrysler drifted into the eastbound lane, colliding with an eastbound Oldsmobile.

The Oldsmobile spun out of control, colliding with the front end of the westbound tractor-trailer driven by David Cox, 60, of Ottawa. Cox was travelling behind the vehicle and a pickup truck, which managed to escape the collision.

The driver of the Oldsmobile died on impact.

Cox was airlifted to the Ottawa Hospital General campus where he was listed in satisfactory condition with non-life-threatening injuries last night.

OPP Senior Const. Eric Booth says the four-wheeler driving the Chrysler told police a sharp pain in his stomach caused him to veer across the road. After colliding with the Oldsmobile, he swerved into the opposite ditch and walked away with minor injuries.

The accident forced the closure of that stretch of highway for most of the day.

Booth says Cox ignored his own injuries to rush to the aid of the Oldsmobile driver, who was already dead.

The Oldsmobile burst into flames, which raged through the cab of the truck, creating a smoke plume visible in Kanata.