The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say they have charged 27-year-old Jonathan Patten of Pouch Cove over a fatal collision from March. (CBC)

A fatal and fiery collision along the Veterans Memorial Highway has resulted in charges against a man from Pouch Cove, N.L., and police says drugs played a role.

In a news release Wednesday, the RCMP says it has charged 27-year-old Jonathan Patten with impaired operation by drug causing death and having a blood drug concentration above the legal limit.

The collision happened on the night of March 19.

In an earlier statement, the RCMP said when officers arrived on the scene they found it appeared as if two vehicles — a Subaru Impreza and a GMC Sierra truck — had collided head on.

The truck was on fire but was extinguished by officers and bystanders who used nearby snow before the firefighters arrived.

The driver of the Subaru, a 25-year-old Tilton man, died at the scene while Patten, the driver of the Sierra, was hospitalized for injuries.

“Blood samples collected from Patten as part of this investigation were sent for analysis. The results, which were recently obtained, determined the presence of a number of illicit impairing drugs,” said the RCMP.

Patten’s licence has been suspended and he’s scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 18.

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.