Just before 5 p.m. today, deputies from the Knox County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of a two vehicle head-on crash on Route 17 in Union just east of Shepard Hill Road.

The deputies arrived and found that a 2011 Ford Sedan, operated by Sherry Cloutier, 52, of Augusta, had been driving west on Route 17 and for some unknown reason crossed the centerline and struck head-on a 2002 Saab sedan operated by Angela Knight-Boege, 49, of Warren, who was traveling east, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Both operators were pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other passengers in either vehicle. Route 17 was shut down to traffic for approximately three hours before crews were able to clear the road.

Assistance was provided by Knox County Regional Communications Center, Union Fire and Ambulance Dept., Northeast Ambulance, and Washington Fire Department.