A nine-year-old girl has died and three others are in hospital in life-threatening condition following a multi-vehicle crash in southeast Calgary Thursday morning that police say was caused by a suspect flight on the run.
Calgary police said they were called around 9:30 a.m. Thursday to a robbery at a Pharmasave store along Millrise Boulevard. Officers believe a suspect assaulted a pharmacist, then fled in a stolen vehicle.
After locating the vehicle, officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but CPS says the driver refused to stop and fled at a high speed. This caused police to back off in the interest of public safety. However, the suspect continued to speed for approximately 18 minutes before running a red light at the intersection of Macleod Trail and Southland Drive, causing a devastating collision.
Paul Donaldson, involved in the accident, described a chaotic scene.
“We were sitting at the light here, a red light. We were about to turn east onto Southland Drive and we saw a van go through a red light and hit someone, I don’t know who it was. They flew towards us and basically that’s the last thing I remember,” he told Global News.
“He hit this person so hard I don’t think the wheels hit the ground until they hit us. That’s how fast this guy was going.
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Scott Cowan, fire battalion chief with the Calgary Fire Department, said crews were called to the scene of the accident shortly before 10 a.m.
“One patient was on the ground, two had to be extricated from one of the vehicles. So far we have four patients in total who have been transported to the hospital,” Cowan said.
The Calgary Fire Department confirmed a child was among those hospitalized. The others included an adult and two teenagers.
Calgary police confirmed that all four were in critical condition and that their lives were in danger.
In a later update, police said the youngest victim of the crash – a nine-year-old girl – “sadly passed away”.
Donaldson says everything turned into chaos after the accident. “I got out of the car and there was everything, everywhere.”
Cowan says collision damage is rare, even for a busy intersection.
“The situation is quite serious, with extensive damage to the majority of these vehicles. I would say that it is quite exceptional in these circumstances.
Donaldson said the accident happened so quickly that he wasn’t able to properly assess the scene until afterward.
“I don’t think I had time to think about anything. We (saw) the guy coming flying through the light. I had enough time to wonder “what did I do” and then someone rushed towards us and that was it.
Donaldson said everyone in his vehicle was safe and well. “My wife was hurt a little bit, but she’s OK,” Donaldson said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s the case for everyone.”
Even after the confusion over the collision subsided slightly, Donaldson said the event was still a blur to him. “I am in shock. That’s the best word I can say about it.
He said he witnessed a man being arrested immediately after the accident, which police confirmed. CPS says the suspect remains in custody and charges are pending.
In a press release, the CPS says that support has been made available to the families of the victims.
“We fully recognize the devastating impact on victims’ families, especially at this time of year, and supports have been offered to help them through this difficult time.
The CPS confirms that the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been informed and will review the file to determine if an investigation is necessary.
Police say the incident remains under investigation and anyone who witnessed the collision, or may have footage from the area, is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234.
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