Calgary police say three people were killed and one was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash in the city’s southwest on Monday evening.
Officers responded to a collision between a Dodge pickup truck and a Honda Insight at James Mckevitt Road S.W. and Spruce Meadows Trail S.W. after 6:30 p.m.
In a news release Tuesday, police said the crash happened as the driver of the Honda merged onto westbound Stoney Trail from James McKevitt Road.
“Prior to completely merging, the Honda turned left across the westbound lanes of Stoney Trail. The Dodge struck the Honda on the driver’s side and both vehicles continued westbound before coming to a rest in an eastbound lane of Stoney Trail,” police said.
The Honda driver, a 48-year-old woman, was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition and later died of her injures.
Two passengers in the vehicle — a 72-year-old woman sitting in the front passenger seat and a 77-year-old man sitting in the back seat — were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Dodge driver, a 33-year-old man, was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition.
Both directions of Spruce Meadows Trail were shut down as police investigated.
Police said Tuesday that alcohol, drugs and excessive speed are not believed to be factors in this crash.
“We’re still investigating the reasons for the crossings of the paths of travel, and we will be investigating the mechanical fitness of the vehicle to ensure that that isn’t an issue and then looking as best we can at the drive inputs as well,” Const. Scott McCallum with the Calgary Police Service Collision Reconstruction Unit said Tuesday.
In a statement, Alberta’s transportation minister said his heart breaks for those killed in the collision.
“On behalf of my colleagues in the government of Alberta, I send my condolences to their families,” Ric McIver said.
The minister said following a major incident in a construction zone, Alberta Transportation reviews safety measures, including signage that was in place in the area at the time. He said the new James Mckevitt Road/Spruce Meadows Way interchange opened to traffic this past weekend and that this portion of the highway remains under construction.
“Motorists are advised to be aware of construction activity, follow the proper signage and speed limits,” McIver’s statement read.
“The safety of Albertans on their roads is my top priority. The collision remains under investigation by Calgary city police, and we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
On Wednesday, the company running the construction site in which the crash happened issued a statement saying it was “working closely with local authorities as the investigation into what happened continues.
“At KGL Constructors, nothing is more important than the safety of the travelling public and all those who work on or near this important project,” a company spokesperson said in an email to Global News.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact the CPS non-emergency number at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers.
– With files from Global News’ Michael King