A child was killed and seven others were injured, six of whom were hospitalized, in a car crash on Highway 16 today (Tuesday, August 18).
Police were called to the scene of the crash, about 10 kilometres east of the Jasper National Park gates, at 10:40 a.m. today.
A police media release said preliminary investigation indicated a pick-up truck was travelling westbound on Highway 16 and it crossed the centre line into the eastbound lane before colliding with an SUV travelling eastbound on Highway 16.
The SUV had seven occupants, a 10-year-old girl who was pronounced dead on scene, and six additional occupants aged 13, 14, 16, 19, 44 and 56-years-old from Edmonton.
The others in the SUV were taken for emergency medical treatment and suffered injuries that are not believed to be life threatening, police said.
The pick-up truck’s lone occupant, a 36-year-old man from B.C. has minor injuries.
Highway 16 reopened at the crash site to one-lane alternating traffic at 3:30 p.m. but significant delays are expected due to large backlogs of traffic.
Hinton RCMP, along with the RCMP Collision Analyst, remain on scene along with emergency crews and are expected to for several more hours.
RCMP will not be releasing the name of the deceased, but further updates will be provided when more information is available.
