RCMP called off chase of stolen truck before 3 killed in crash near Alberta-Sask. border

RCMP in Saskatchewan say it called off the police pursuit of a stolen truck that ended up colliding with a minivan andkilling three women from Edmonton.

On Thursday morning, officers in Maidstone, Sask., began investigating the theft of three vehicles, including one three-quarter ton, flat deck truck.

• 3 women from Edmonton killed after stolen truck crashes into minivan near Sask-Alberta border

According to the RCMP, officers found two of the three stolen vehicles at the junction of Highway 303 and Highway 16 near Lloydminster, Sask., on Friday around 2:30 a.m.

That's around the timethey spotted the heavy-duty truck driving in the area.Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but it drove off.

Theyinitiated a chase,however, their supervisor assessed the situation and called off the pursuit.

Witness wants answersafter watching truck get away

A Saskatchewan man who says he witnessed the stolen vehiclesin his yard and calledRCMPtook toFacebook to express his frustration and shock the truck was able to get away.

According to a post by Curtis Byford,he heard three vehicles pull into his yard after 1 a.m. CST.

He calledRCMP, and waited for them to arrive. During that time, he says he witnessed the occupants of the three vehicles load into the one truck and drive off.

Byfordsaid after two officers arrived and while he was giving them astatement, he saw the stolen truck return. After signaling to theofficers they went after the vehicle, but came back a few minutes later saying they were told to stand down.

"I want answers," the post reads.

RCMP supervisorended chase, citing policy

In an RCMP news release issued Saturday, division commanding officer and assistant commissioner Curtis Zablocki cited policy as the reason the chase was ended.

"Given that pursuits pose a serious risk to the public, theRCMPdeveloped national policy that outlines the requirements for initiating a pursuit, the ongoingmonitoring and assessing, and the decision to continue or terminate a pursuit," he said in Saturday's release.

RCMP reportedabout 35 minuteslater thatthetruck collided with a minivanin the eastbound lane of Highway 16, five kilometresfrom Lloydminister on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border.

Two women, 35 and 37, were pronounceddead immediately, while a 53-year-old woman later died of her injures. A fourth woman, 32, was airlifted to hospital is critical condition.

RCMPConst. Ryan Reid said the women are from Edmonton's Liberian community.

• Edmonton community mourns 3 mothers killed in Sask. crash

No charges announced

On Friday, RCMPtook a 26-year-old man suspect into custody in connection with the crash.

Police said the occupants of the truck fled before they arrived on scene and an investigation was underway to determine if more people were involved.

As of Saturday, nonew information on potentialcharges hadbeen releasedbutRCMPsaid they will shareinformation astheinvestigation unfolds.