Investigation into fatal overnight collision on Gateway Blvd. underway

CTV Edmonton: Police investigating fatal crash Edmonton police suspect speed and alcohol led to a fatal collision on a major thoroughfare overnight.

A fatal collision shut down traffic on a major roadway for several hours Wednesday morning.

Police said a northbound Jeep left the road, shortly after 2:15 a.m., and slammed into the side of a business near 61 Avenue.

The passenger, a 28-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene and the male driver, also 28-years-old, was sent to hospital with critical head injuries.

At last word, the driver was reportedly in stable condition and is expected to recover.

A ten block stretch of Gateway Boulevard was closed, at 51 Avenue, for most of the morning commute as police investigated the single vehicle collision.

Witnesses told police the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed before the crash.

“The distance this vehicle travelled out of control is a clear indicator of high speeds,” EPS Insp. Brian Nowlan said at the scene. “At this time of night, little traffic, people may not be familiar with the roads and travelling at a high rate of speed, even though you think you might be safe, this is exactly what can happen.”

Police said later Wednesday that alcohol is also believed to have been a factor in the crash.

The busy route re-opened to traffic shortly after 8:30 a.m.

With files from Laura Tupper