3 killed in Hwy 16 crash with stolen truck near Lloydminster

Three women are dead and another is in hospital after their van collided with a reportedly stolen truck near the Alberta border Friday morning.

In a release, Maidstone RCMP said the collision happened around 3:10 a.m. on Highway 16, five kilometres east of Lloydminster, when the women’s minivan collided with a heavy-duty truck in the eastbound lane.

Two women, aged 35 and 37, died at the scene. A third, a 53-year-old woman, later died of her injuries. The fourth occupant of the minivan, a 32-year-old woman, was airlifted to Edmonton hospital in unknown condition.

All four women are from Edmonton.

A 26-year-old man was found shortly after and arrested. Police are still trying to determine if anyone else was in the truck.

Police said the truck involved in the crash was reported stolen from the Lloydminster area a night before and those inside the vehicle fled before police could arrive.

On Saturday, police issued a release saying the stolen vehicle involved in the crash was involved in a chase around 30 minutes before the fatal crash. RCMP were called around 2:30 a.m. Friday for reports of three stolen vehicles.

“The pursuit was terminated in accordance with the RCMP’s Emergency Vehicle Operation policy,” said “F” Division Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki.

“Given that pursuits pose a serious risk to the public, the RCMP developed national policy that outlines the requirements for initiating a pursuit, the ongoing monitoring and assessing, and the decision to continue or terminate a pursuit.”