Two women are dead after a head-on collision in Antigonish County.

RCMP says it was shortly after midnight Friday, near the 4000 block of Highway 4 in Lower South River.

A van and an SUV were travelling in opposite directions when they collided.

A 41-year-old woman from Antigonish, the driver of the van, was pronounced dead in hospital.

The passengers were hurt and taken to hospital.

The driver of the SUV, a 58-year-old Afton woman, died at the scene.

Highway 4 was closed for several hours.

The investigation continues.