A Boxing Day crash in Calgary left four people in critical condition in hospital following a multi-vehicle crash allegedly caused by a fleeing robbery suspect. The incident occurred at the intersection of McLeod Trail and Southland Drive, following a series of events that began with a robbery at a Pharmasave on Millrise Boulevard.
Police were notified of the robbery around 9:30 a.m., during which it was reported that a suspect attacked a pharmacist and drove off in a stolen vehicle. In an attempt to intercept the suspect, officers stopped the pursuit due to public safety concerns as the suspect drove away. About 18 minutes later, the suspect ran a red light at the busy intersection, causing the accident.
Eyewitness Paul Donaldson said his vehicle was at a red light when a van drove through it and collided with another car, which then hit his vehicle. He described the scene as chaotic and emphasized the speed and force of the impact. Calgary Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Cowan confirmed emergency services arrived shortly before 10 a.m. to extricate and treat the injured. Among the people taken to hospital were a child, an adult and two teenagers.
The Calgary Police Service (CPS) confirmed that all four hospitalized individuals are in life-threatening condition. CPS continues to investigate and has the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team kept informed of the process. They encourage witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to contact them. The suspect is in custody and charges are pending as police provide support to the victims’ families during this difficult time.