Police suspect that alcohol and excessive speed were chief factors in a devastating head-on crash that claimed the lives of three people and left a fourth in critical condition.
The crash occurred at just after 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday on 17 Avenue just west of 37 Street S.W.
Witnesses say a Dodge Neon sedan was speeding eastbound when it crossed the centre line and slammed into a Jeep.
A 32-year-old woman and 37-year old man died at the scene and a 35-year-old man died later in hospital.
The driver of the Neon, a 47-year-old man, remains in critical condition in hospital.
All the occupants of the Jeep, four women, walked away from the crash.
Police are still working out what happened, and say that the Traffic Unit has taken the lead.
"We are investigating this as an alcohol-related investigation," said Duty Staff Sergeant Paul Wozney. "Members of our specialized traffic investigative area have been called in and they have taken over the investigation and part of the investigation was whether the driver was impaired at the time of the collision."
Charges are pending in the investigation.
Police say that so far this year, there have been 33 fatal crashes in Calgary, claiming the lives of 36 peoplea and 18 of those crashes involved alcohol.
