Police-involved crash leaves 84 year-old dead and officer seriously injured

ASIRT is investigating a police-involved collision that killed one person at the intersection of 75 Street and 76 Avenue.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, an unmarked police car heading north collided with a southbound vehicle at the intersection as it was turning onto the avenue.

An 84 year-old woman in the other car was killed, the officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The officer, a 6 year veteran with the force, was a constable on the surveillance unit.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which is now heading up the investigation, would not say if the officer was involved in a pursuit at the time. But it seems as though there was no warning.

"Our information is there were no lights and sirens active at the time of the collision," says Cliff Purvis with ASIRT.

Investigators are hoping to learn more about the events leading up to the crash from witnesses, as well as the cars involved.

"Both vehicles were equipped with airbags, the air bags were deployed," says Purvis. "As a result of that deployment there is some data that is retrievable from both vehicles that will assist us in obtaining the speed of the vehicles, whether the vehicles were accelerating or decelerating at the time of impact."

On Thursday afternoon, Edmonton's police chief began the task of reaching out to both the victim's family, and his officer.

"I am looking to meet with the family of the deceased as soon as possible so I can personally express my condolences on behalf of the Edmonton Police Service and myself," Chief Rod Knecht said, adding that he would also be visiting the hospital to provide support to the injured officer and his family.

The last fatal crash involving EPS was back in 2001, when Constable Ken Brander was pursuing a suspect on the Yellowhead and hit another vehicle, killing a young child and badly injuring another. In that case, the officer was charged with criminal negligence causing death but was later acquitted. A civil lawsuit was settled out of court.

With files from Ross Neitz, Global News