Calgary

Drugs, speed possible factors in crash that killed pedestrian, badly injured infant and woman

Police say a driver who struck three people, killing a man and badly injuring a woman and infant near Chinook Centre on Thursday night, was possibly speeding and impaired by drugs.

Driver fled on foot after hitting pedestrians near Chinook Centre in southwest Calgary

A crash near Chinook mall Thursday night killed an adult male pedestrian and left a baby and a woman in serious, life-threatening condition. (Mike Symington/CBC)

Police say a driver who struck three people, killing a man and badly injuring a woman and infant near Chinook Centre on Thursday night, was possibly speeding and impaired by drugs.

The collision happened at about 8:20 p.m. when a GMC Terrain heading south on Macleod Trail in the right turn lane for westbound Glenmore Trail S.W. hit two adults and a baby in a stroller, who were on a raised island waiting to cross, police said in a release Friday.

Police say the driver of the GMC had failed to make the right-hand curve and continued straight southbound, hitting the pedestrians on the raised island.

The GMC kept going south, across two more raised islands and crossing the exit lane from eastbound Glenmore Trail to southbound Macleod Trail before hitting a snowbank at the edge of the road and sliding to a stop.

The driver then got out and fled on foot. Police say he was arrested at a nearby Tim Hortons and was later taken to hospital for assessment.

The SUV hit the pedestrians on this triangular island on Macleod Trail near the exit lane for westbound Glenmore Trail S.W. (Google Street View)

The male pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

The female pedestrian and the child were taken to Foothills Medical Centre and the Alberta Children's Hospital, respectively, both in serious, life-threatening condition.

Police want to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision or might have dashcam footage and are asking them to call the traffic section at 403-567-4000, or the non-emergency number at 403-266-1234, or to contact Crime Stoppers.