Achi news desk-
Police say two teenagers were among those killed in a single-vehicle crash in Fredericton early Sunday morning that claimed the lives of three people and left two others with injuries.
During a news conference Monday, Fredericton Police Chief Martin Gaudt said the victims were a 17-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl and a 22-year-old man.
Also, a 16-year-old boy was critically injured and airlifted to the IWK Health Center in Halifax, and a 14-year-old girl was treated for injuries.
“It’s a tragedy for the community, it’s a parent’s worst nightmare, and it’s a tough call for first responders to come,” Gaudt said.
Out of respect for the families of the victims, the police are not releasing the names of the dead. They also do not reveal the relationship between the people in the car.
Speed ​​was the main factor
Gaudet said shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday, officers attempted to pull over a vehicle approaching a patrol car at high speed.
“Our police officer activated the emergency lights, but the vehicle was unable to stop. The police officer lost sight of the vehicle in question and broke off,” he said.
Police responded to the crash in the 700 block of Douglas Avenue on the city’s north side a short time later.
Investigators believe the vehicle hit a curb and flipped before hitting another parked vehicle, which was occupied by four men. The men were not seriously injured, Gaudet said.
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Speed ​​was the main factor behind the crash, which happened in a suburban area.
“In this particular case, it’s clear the driver was going too fast for the conditions and lost control,” Gaudet said.
Police say speed was the main factor in the accident.
Submitted/Nellie St. Germain
Fredericton police are continuing to investigate the incident, and are working to determine who was driving the car at the time.
“It was not an easy task to figure out who the driver was,” Gaudet said. “This is part of the criminal investigation.”
In a statement, Anglophone West District Superintendent David McTimoney said the incident affected Leo Hayes High School “as well as smaller groups of students at other schools in the Fredericton area.”
“This difficult news has an impact on many students, families and staff in our school community,” he said, adding that a crisis response team is in place at Leo Hayes High School.
“In visiting the school this morning, it was clear that the staff and students are in good hands and are receiving the necessary support. The supports will remain in place as long as they are needed,” he said. “I’m sure the community shares in our collective grief following this terrible accident.”
“It can happen to anyone”
Nellie St-Germain, who lives on the street where the crash happened, said she was getting ready for bed that night when she heard “tyres screeching” followed by a “loud crack”.
She went outside and saw a lot of smoke and other neighbors coming out of their houses. Police and fire crews were on the scene minutes later.
“It was shocking… the whole front part (of the vehicle) was gone,” she said. “I’ve never witnessed anything so traumatic.”
St. Germain said the neighborhood is in shock and is thinking of the victims’ families.
She said it’s common for cars to speed in the area, and she’s calling for a stronger police presence and other measures to calm traffic.
“I just want people to see this in the hope that it might help one young person — or any person who likes speed — realize that they’re not invincible and it can happen to anyone,” she said.
Gaudt said police have received complaints about speeding cars, not only in the Douglas Avenue area, but from all over the city.
He said the road was currently “well built” but suggested police might increase their presence in the area.
– with Silas Brown files
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