A Wednesday morning crash involving an SUV and a gravel truck has claimed the life of the SUV driver and sent the driver of the commercial vehicle to hospital in critical condition.

The collision occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. at a location approximately four kilometres south of the town of Irricana on Highway 9, northeast of Calgary.

According to RCMP, a northbound SUV swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the southbound gravel truck.

The impact of the collision ignited both vehicles.

The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s identity has not been released.

STARS Air Ambulance transported the gravel truck driver to the Foothills Hospital in critical condition. The 38-year-old man’s injuries were described as potentially life threatening.

RCMP members are investigating witness reports which indicate driver distraction on the part of the SUV operator may have contributed to the collision.