Friday night fatal collision believed to involve modified racing vehicle

One person is dead following a single-vehicle crash in southeast Calgary on Friday evening.

The incident occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m., when police were called to the 2800 block of 58 Avenue S.E. for reports of a serious-injury collision.

Police believe the victim, a man in his 30s, was driving westbound on 58 Avenue S.E. towards the entrance of the plaza in the 2800 block when it lost control, went up a curb and hit two large boulders.

The collision with the boulders redirected the vehicle westbound, causing it to roll onto its roof. Police believe speed and alcohol were both factors in the collision.

The driver was pronounced dead on scene by EMS.

Police say the vehicle was a 1984 Mercury Capri that wasn't road worthy as it appears to have been modified for racing. It had only one seat for the driver and no seat belt. The vehicle's interior was stripped, glass removed and a roll cage installed.

Police are continuing to investigate and would like to remind the public that street racing is prohibited and can have deadly outcomes.

STREET RACING RESPONSE?

The crash has reignited a debate around street racing in Calgary.  

Last December, two councillors supported a notice of motion to explore a safe way to allow racing to happen on closed roadways. 

It was defeated. 

One of those two councillors -- Ward 7's Terry Wong -- says a move to legalize parts of the activity would be safer. 

"You can have police and EMS (in a closed area)," Wong told CTV News. "I think the most important thing the council members need to understand is that it's going to happen regardless, wherever, and if we can create an environment where people can do it safely -- one that we can regulate -- that will take all the other issues away from everybody else."

Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra says he's still not in favour of the move, pointing to an existing speed track north of the city. 

"Who's to say (the racers) are going to use it anyways?" he said. "The problems of course are from a safety and a liability perspective. They're also from a cost perspective: who polices this?"

The southeast and northeast quadrants of the city are hot spots for the racing. Residents there say they commonly complain to city police. 

"The people who are doing it illegally in the middle of the night should took better care of themselves and each other and the city that they live in," Carra said. 

Wong believes the idea needs to be more thoroughly explored and detailed. He says it could be brought up again at City Hall in the near future.

Anyone who has information is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by downloading the P3 Tips app available at Apple or the Google Play Store.

A man died yesterday in a single-vehicle collision involving a heavily modified vehicle believed to have been used for racing. Speed and alcohol are both believed to be factors in the collision. Full release:https://t.co/8w71P1QoKs

— Calgary Police (@CalgaryPolice) September 3, 2022