Victims of serious crash east of Calgary identified as sisters from France
RCMP say two victims injured in a horrific crash east of Calgary earlier this week were family members visiting from France.
EMS and Mounties from the Airdrie detachment responded to the collision in the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 564, north of Dalroy, Alta., just after 2 p.m. on June 6.
RCMP say a semi travelling south on Highway 9 hit an SUV that crossed in front of it as it headed east on Highway 564.
The driver of the SUV had to be extricated from the vehicle and was taken to hospital in critical condition by STARS air ambulance, while the lone passenger was taken to hospital by ground ambulance in critical condition.
The driver of the semi truck was not injured.
"The SUV’s 29-year-old driver and 26-year-old passenger remain in critical condition," said RCMP in a Thursday news release. "They are sisters, and residents of France."
In an email to CTV News, a family spokesperson says the victims were unused to Canadian road signs, which are very different than those seen in Europe.
He said the support they've been receiving from family and friends has been a huge help.
"We want to thank the rescue teams, firefighters and ambulances, who made it possible to get the girls out of the car and quickly bring them to foothills hospital," said the family spokesperson in an email, translated from French.
"Marie's uncle was a firefighter from Paris and knows how important it is to get a victim out without aggravating these injuries.
"We also want to thank the teams of the ICU head trauma with the teams of Mr. Couillard. The doctors and nurses are really very attentive and very supportive of the family."
To donate to help the family you can click here.
Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in this collision, RCMP said.
The hamlet of Dalroy is located in Rocky View County, about 20 kilometres east of Calgary.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.