Police chase called off before deadly crash, say investigators

Investigators say Edmonton police called off achase moments before the suspect vehicle plowed into two others, leaving two people dead Sunday.

Police beganfollowinga Chevrolet vehiclecontainingfour people near82nd Street and 121st Avenue at around5:25 a.m.

When the vehiclesped away, the officer gave chase.

A few moments later, atabout5:30 a.m., the speeding Chevroletentered the intersection ofManning Drive and 50th Street and slammed intotwo othervehicles.

Two people in the backseat of the suspect vehicle, a29-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman,died at the scene.

The driver, a 25-year-old man,and a 23-year-old woman in thefront passenger seatare both in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The people inthe two other vehicleswere not hurt.

In anewsrelease Monday, ASIRT said police had called off the chase before the crash overconcerns about public safety.

ASIRT said it is investigatingthe circumstances surrounding the initial police interaction with the carand the policeresponse to the criminal flightto determine what influence, if any, it had on the crash.

ASIRT'smandate is to investigate incidents involving Alberta's police resultingin serious injury or death to any person, as well as serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.

The crash was the second fatal crash in northeast Edmonton on the weekend.

A three-vehicle crash at167thAvenue and59A Streetearly Saturdayleft oneman dead andanother in critical condition.