Police believe alcohol and speed contributed to a crash in the city’s northeast that claimed the life of a 24-year-old man.

At approximately 1:40 a.m. Sunday morning, officers in a police cruiser travelling northbound on 68 St. N.E. encountered two southbound vehicles being driven at a high rate of speed.  The police unit made a U-Turn at the intersection of 68 St. and 32 Ave. and the cruiser's lights and sirens were activated in an attempt to perform a traffic stop on the two cars. 

The driver of a Volkswagen Jetta pulled over while the driver of a Honda Accord sped away.  The Accord’s driver, a 21-year-old male, lost control of the vehicle and collided with a light standard at the intersection of 68 St. and 26 Ave. N.E.

The passenger in the front seat of the Accord, a 24-year-old male whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.  Three female passengers sitting in the backseat suffered serious, non-life threatening injuries and were transported to hospital by EMS.

The Accord driver sustained minor injuries in the crash.  He refused to provide a breath sample at the scene of the crash.

Charges are pending against the driver of the Accord.