Four people are injured, one critically, after a crash between an SUV and a sedan on Centre Street at 3:40 Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators have determined that the SUV ran a red light, hit the car and then hurtled up onto the sidewalk where it hit a pedestrian and then a building.
“I was in the bank and we heard three loud bangs all of a sudden, and we just ran out and saw the car right in front of us with smoke coming out from the hood and a lady was lying down underneath the car,” said Jacky Yeung, who witnessed the crash.
The pedestrian, a woman believed to be in her 70’s, was pinned under the vehicle and had to be extracted and rushed to Foothills Medical Centre in life-threatening condition.
A second pedestrian, a woman in her 30’s, was taken to Rockyview Hospital with minor injuries.
A man in his 20’s who was driving the SUV was taken to Foothills Hospital with minor injuries.
A woman in her 80’s was inside the building that was struck and was taken to Rockyview Hospital, likely due to distress caused by witnessing the crash.
Police don't believe the intersection is dangerous.
“I don’t think this intersection is any better or worse than most of the intersections downtown, unfortunately with the downtown core, people are usually in a rush to get where they are going and sometimes don’t pay attention to the traffic control devices," said Sgt. Jon James.
Alcohol and speed are also not believed to be factors in the crash.
