On March 13, 2016, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was directed by the Director of Law Enforcement to investigate the circumstances that lead to a fatal collision.
At approximately 5:25 a.m. a Chevrolet vehicle being driven in the area of 82 Street and 121 Avenue came to the attention of an Edmonton Police Service officer operating a marked police vehicle. When the officer began to follow, the Chevrolet sped away. The officer attempted to catch up to the Chevrolet with the intent to conduct a vehicle stop. ASIRT has confirmed that given concerns about public safety, the Edmonton Police Service made the decision to disengage from following the vehicle.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. the Chevrolet, containing four occupants, entered the intersection at Manning Drive and 50 Street at a high rate of speed and collided with two civilian vehicles. Two occupants of the Chevrolet, a man 29 years of age and a woman 23 years of age, seated in the rear of the vehicle died at the scene. The male driver, 25 years of age, and the front female passenger, 23 years of age, are both in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The occupants of the two other vehicles involved in the collision were unharmed.
The Edmonton Police Service is conducting an investigation into the possible criminal conduct of the driver of the Chevrolet. ASIRT’s investigation is focusing on the circumstances surrounding the initial police interaction with the vehicle and criminal flight response to determine what influence, if any, it had on the subsequent collision.
With the ASIRT investigation underway, further comment will not be available until the conclusion of the investigation.
ASIRT’s mandate is to effectively, independently, and objectively investigate incidents involving Alberta’s police that have resulted in serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.