Victims of serious crash east of Calgary identified as sisters from France

French sisters Charlotte, 25, (left) and Marie, 29, (right) were injured in a crash in the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 564 on June 6.

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.