Highway 2 crash victims were Chinese international students

The four young people involved in a deadly crash on Highway 2 were international students from China.

"Words seem inadequate to express the sadness enveloping our campus today," University of Alberta president Indira Samarasekera wrote in a statement Tuesday. 

"Two of our students and a former student lost their lives in a tragic car accident yesterday."

The three — two men aged 20 and 24 and a woman, 20 — died after their SUV rolled over south of Edmonton Monday morning.

The survivor, a 21-year-old woman, also a former student, was sent to hospital in "grave" condition, but is now in serious but stable condition.

The Chinese Consulate-General’s office confirmed the four were Chinese students studying in Canada. The office said it has contacted the families of the victims with help from University of Alberta and the Alberta Chinese Students Association.

Zheng Kang, president of the students association, said many students knew the victims and at least one was active in the student body.

A memorial is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Alberta quad and is open to the public.

Samarasekera urged those who knew the victims to reach out for support.

"This is a sad day for the University of Alberta, and most especially for the families and those closest to these young people, she said.

"On behalf of our university community, I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the students who died." 

The Chinese government is now in the process of securing visas for the family members to allow them to visit Canada and to make funeral arrangements.

RCMP are still investigating the cause of the crash. Police say it appears the SUV hit the shoulder of the highway and lost control, rolling over several times before coming to a stop on its roof.

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