Police said they were actively searching for an erratic driver just before a fatal crash in Saskatoon that left one man dead.
The crash happened Wednesday afternoon at around 1:25 p.m. CT on Circle Drive near 108th Street.
READ MORE: Man killed in crash on Saskatoon’s Circle Drive
A northbound car struck a piece of construction equipment then crossed the median and hit a southbound car.
The driver of the southbound car, a 70-year-old man, was declared dead at the scene. His name has not been released.
The 17-year-old driver of the northbound car was arrested after he was released from hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
He appeared in provincial court Thursday morning on charges of breaching probation and undertakings. Police said an investigation into criminal driving charges is ongoing.
READ MORE: Alberta man killed in Saskatchewan crash
“Charges are expected to be laid. We don’t have a time for that,” said Saskatoon Police Service spokesperson Kelsie Fraser.
Court records show the teen has a criminal past, pleading guilty to aggravated assault. He was sentenced in May 2015 to six months open custody, followed by three months of supervised custody and 18 months probation.
His previous breaches include: wearing or possessing gang paraphernalia, breaking curfew, breaking and entering and carrying weapons, according to court records.
The accused is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing Friday morning.
Police have confirmed they had received two reports of a vehicle being driven erratically prior to the Circle Drive crash but have not confirmed if it is the same vehicle involved in the deadly collision.
Traffic restrictions were in place for nearly six hours following the crash, causing traffic gridlock during the afternoon rush hour in many parts of Saskatoon.
Police officials said the examination of a collision scene is challenging and investigators must preserve and collect evidence of what has occurred. They also want to ensure they can answer questions asked by families of the deceased and address their concerns.
“It’s a tragedy, right? Somebody lost their life. It’s an investigation that will probably take a while, so we ask for people’s patience in that,” Fraser said.
Additionally, officials said courts have established investigational competence standards for police services and police can be held civilly liable.
WATCH BELOW: Accident reconstructionists piece together puzzle
Ryan Kessler contributed to this story
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