Police said they are investigating Edmonton’s 15th traffic fatality after an alleged hit and run led to a civilian pursuit that saw a driver crash into a tree and later die in hospital.
At about 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, officers received a report of a pickup truck being hit by a minivan in north-central Edmonton, police said Sunday morning.
They said a blue Dodge Ram 1500 was headed east on 116 Avenue when it was allegedly struck by a silver Ford Freestar headed north in an alley between 97 Street and 101 Street. Police said the 30-year-old man driving the minivan then allegedly fled the scene while the 56-year-old driver of the pickup truck chased them with their vehicle. At that point, police said the minivan reportedly headed east on 118 Avenue to 97 Street before turning south and moving “at a high rate of speed.”
“The suspect driver then reportedly lost control while swerving to avoid a parked vehicle before striking a tree, causing him to be trapped inside the vehicle,” police said in a news release. “Members of the Edmonton Fire Department attended and successfully extracted the suspect male from the van.”
Police said the man was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries.
While an investigation is ongoing, police said they believe alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.