26-year-old driving stolen vehicle killed in crash near northeast Edmonton high school: EPS
Posted June 4, 2024 10:15 am.
Last Updated June 4, 2024 6:44 pm.
Police say a 26-year-old man driving a vehicle that had allegedly been stolen minutes earlier was killed in a crash near a high school in northeast Edmonton early Tuesday morning.
The Edmonton Police Service says the collision happened around 5:20 a.m. close to M.E. LaZerte High School in the Kilkenny neighbourhood, across from the Londonderry Mall.
It was reported to police the grey Pontiac Grand Prix was travelling east on 144 Avenue when it collided with a streetlight pole between 66 Street and 67 Street.
Officers say they arrived to find the man dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the car was stolen about five minutes before the crash, and that speed was a significant factor.
“We don’t know at this point how fast he was going,” said Acting Sgt. Jeff Knull. “We can speculate that it’s going to be well over the speed limit.”
The mangled wreckage of the grey sedan could be seen scattered across 144 Avenue later Tuesday, with the vehicle torn apart into three major sections. One of those was wedged against the pole.
Residents of the area were stunned by the damage. “I‘ve never seen anything this devastating before,” one person told CityNews. “No one should have died like this.”
Students at the high school were also affected by the wreckage.
“I just came to buy myself food and head back to school. After seeing the scene, it really scared me and it can happen to any of us,” one student said.
“I came in when they were just cleaning the blood,” said another. “I felt like I don’t know what to do. I felt shocked.”
“Somebody could’ve been standing at this pole or somebody could’ve been sitting over there,” added a third.
The EPS major collision division is investigating.
It was the fourth traffic fatality in Edmonton in the last six days, bringing the total number of traffic fatalities this year to nine.
“When you’re operating machinery on the road, just be extra, extra vigilant,” said EPS Sgt. Kerry Bates with the traffic safety unit. “Drive according to the speeds and the roadways postings.”
–With files from Hiba Kamal-Choufi
