Police seek witnesses after alleged street race leads to crash on Edmonton’s High Level Bridge

Police believe street racing may have led to a vehicle collision on Edmonton’s High Level Bridge on Tuesday night that sent three people to hospital.

Officers were dispatched to the bridge at about 10:45 p.m. after someone called 911 and reported a crash involving speeding vehicles.

“It was reported to police that a grey Dodge Journey and a black Hyundai Azera were seen racing in the area of Jasper Avenue and 109 Street around 10:40 p.m.,” the Edmonton Police Service said in a news release issued Wednesday. “The two vehicles were subsequently observed racing across the High Level Bridge shortly thereafter.

“It is alleged the driver of the Journey then made a couple (of) quick lane changes around two civilian vehicles. The driver of the Azera attempted to complete the same driving maneuvers, but was unable to avoid a Mitsubishi Eclipse, colliding with the back of the vehicle and causing both vehicles to spin out of control. The two cars then struck the bridge, causing significant damage to both vehicles.”

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Police said the 21-year-old man driving the Azera and a 24-year-old man who was a passenger in the same car were take to hospital by paramedics. Their injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening. The 52-year-old driver of the Eclipse was taken to hospital for precautionary reasons.

Police said the 22-year-old driver of the Journey remained at the scene.

“Impairment is not considered a factor in the collision, though speed is,” the EPS said.

Police did not say if any charges have been laid.

Corus radio anchor injured in crash

Thomas Dias, a radio anchor at 630 CHED and Global News Radio 880, two stations owned by Global Edmonton’s parent company Corus Entertainment, was driving the Eclipse — the car that was hit.

“I think my nerves are maybe just starting to calm down now,” Dias told Global News on Wednesday night.

He said he was coming from from watching a hockey game at Rogers Place when the violent collision occurred.

“I was getting onto the High Level Bridge, started going, had a look in my rear view, saw some cars back further but nothing that was close at all,” Dias recounted.

“I got about halfway down the bridge, and out of the blue, all I knew was my car was sideways in the air, and then coming down hard.”:

Dias said in the moment he had no idea what had happened. He managed to stumble out of his car before collapsing on the pavement until first responders arrived.

“When they had me on the stretcher, one of the officers said, ‘You know, it looks like a bomb just went off, and we think most of it’s your car,'” he recalled. “I guess I probably gave up one of my nine lives.

“I can smile about it but only because I somehow came through it.”

Dias said he has aches, pains and bruises but is “quite happy to have been able to get away from that without anything more than what I did get.”

Dias said he hopes people realize how serious these types of collisions can be.

“It’s not worth it. You could kill somebody.”

Anyone with information about the crash or who may have video of what happened is asked to call the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.