Editor’s note: RCMP originally said the collision involved three vehicles but later clarified two vehicles were involved. This article has been updated to reflect the change.
Jasper RCMP are investigating a fatal collision east of the national park gates.
At around 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, police said they were called to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 16, about 10 kilometres east of the Jasper National Park gates.
Cpl. Deanna Fontaine said the crash involved a pickup truck with one person, a 36-year-old man, inside and a larger SUV that was carrying seven people. RCMP believe the truck was heading west on the highway when it crossed the centre line and hit the SUV, which was heading east.
The B.C. man in the pickup truck suffered minor injuries, RCMP said.
A 10-year-old girl who was in the SUV died at the scene, RCMP said.
Six other people, aged 13, 14, 16, 19, 44 and 56, were in the SUV. All six are from Edmonton but are not all from the same family. They were all taken for emergency medical treatment but suffered injuries that “are not believed to be life-threatening.”
The victim’s identity has not been released.
The east and westbound lanes of Highway 16 were closed to traffic and traffic was being re-routed. Highway 16 reopened to “restricted traffic” at 3:30 p.m.
RCMP were expected to remain on scene for several more hours. Significant delays were expected.