3 dead, 1 in 'grave' condition after Highway 2 crash south of Edmonton

Three people are dead and one is in hospital in "grave" condition following a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 2 south of Edmonton.

RCMP say the crash happened around 10:40 a.m. Monday in the southbound lanes of the QEII near the 41st Avenue overpass construction site. 

Police said all four passengers, all young adults, were found in the SUV when first responders arrived. Three were declared dead on scene. The fourth, a young woman, was air-lifted to an Edmonton hospital. 

On Monday afternoon, RCMP said she was in "grave" condition. 

“This is definitely a very difficult incident for officers and emergency responders,” RCMP Const. Julian Celms said on Monday afternoon.

Cause of rollover unclear, say RCMP

While the cause of the crash is still unknown, police believe the southbound SUV hit the shoulder, lost control and rolled several times before coming to rest on the roof in the middle of the road.

Celms said a collision re-constructionist is working to determine exactly how the rollover happened.

“It’s really difficult to speculate at this time," he said. "What we do know is that the roads were in good condition.”

Celms also noted that traffic was likely light to moderate along the highway when the crash happened.

Police are interviewing witnesses and ask that anyone who saw the crash call Leduc RCMP.

“Depending on what we find out there, the coroner may or may not be involved to determine what went on with the driver," he said.

Road has now reopened

Police shut down a section of QEII for several hours while they worked on scene, causing major delays and detours for drivers.

The highway was reopened just after 3 p.m. But RCMP warned it would take some time for normal traffic flow to resume.

Airport-bound drivers, in particular, were affected throughout the day, with several passengers and airline crew members missing flights due to the highway closure. 

Meanwhile, a Westjet spokesperson at Edmonton International Airport said flight agents would accommodate passengers who missed their flights as a result of the crash and subsequent delays. The agent said passengers would be seated on the next available flight at no cost.

"In addition to the collision in Edmonton, we have a number of cancellations across the country as a result of poor weather in the east, so it is a good idea that all guests check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport and build in plenty of time to get to the airport," Brie Thorsteinson Ogle said in a news release.