Woman injured in double-fatal van crash near Cochrane still clinging to life in hospital

RCMP say most of the five people injured in a crash that also killed two people near Cochrane this week are improving, but one woman is still critically injured.

The crash involved a passenger van carrying seven people from the Stoney NakodaFirst Nation thatlost control and rolled several times before coming to a rest in a ditch Wednesday morning.

Two people, a man and a woman in their 30s, were killed.

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The other five are still in hospital, said Sgt. Jeff Campbell,with all but one showing signs of improvement.

"The female that was transportedis listed in critical condition at this time," he said.

"The injuries are quite severe and sothelast indication we have is it's day-to-day."

Krista Hunter, whoseniece was among the injured, said both of the deceased had childrenand the crash has been "devastating"to the community of Morley,home toroughly 3,000 people.

"Not only for the seven families but for the whole community, it's shocking," she said at the roadside on Wednesday.

"It's scary when you lose young people like this."

Campbell said investigators, who believe alcohol was a factor in the crash,have now spoken with all thesurvivors and are waiting for blood tests on the driver to come back from the lab.

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