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UPDATE: Three residents involved in fatal auto collision on Highway 55

Last Updated Feb 13, 2020 at 8:53 am MDT

A multi-vehicle collision on Highway 55 east of Grassland claimed the lives of three Fort McMurray residents.

Paramedics airlifted two others to Edmonton with serious life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

Multi-vehicle collision

On Feb. 11, 2020, at 10:37 a.m., Boyle RCMP responded to the scene of a multi-vehicle collision on Hwy. 55 between Township Road 674 and Range Road 190.

Initial reports suggest a southbound vehicle from Fort McMurray attempted to pass a vehicle when it collided with a semi-tractor heading northbound.

The southbound vehicle was a taxi, although it’s not known if it was in service at the time of the incident.

Behind the wheel was a 44-year-old man from Fort McMurray, two 68-year-old male and female passengers also from Fort McMurray, and a fourth passenger from Edmonton.

A separate collision followed with a southbound semi-tractor, but the driver only suffered minor injuries.

RCMP pronounced three adult occupants in the taxi, the male driver and two passengers from Fort McMurray, deceased at the scene.

The fourth passenger from Edmonton and the driver of the northbound semi-tractor received serious life-threatening injuries.

Paramedics rushed both to a hospital before airlifting them to Edmonton.

Boyle RCMP believes speed, road conditions, ice, weather, and low visibility factored in the incident, and will not lay charges.

Police and an RCMP Collision Analyst continue to investigate.

Authorities since cleared the area for regular traffic.