A serious motor vehicle collision on Idylwyld Drive Tuesday morning resulted in a vehicle fire, critical injuries, and a major police investigation involving multiple agencies.
Emergency crews were called to the scene on May 5th, after reports of a collision near 60th Street East along Idylwyld Drive. Upon arrival, officers with the Saskatoon Police Service encountered a vehicle fully engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke visible from a distance.
Traffic in the area was heavily impacted, with all northbound lanes of Idylwyld Drive closed at the Highway 16 flyover as police and fire crews worked to bring the situation under control.
Further information released later in the day revealed the incident began earlier that morning, when a vehicle was reported driving erratically. According to police, a Dodge Durango, reported stolen out of Prince Albert, was being monitored after travelling from Highway 11 into Saskatoon.
Shortly before 9:00am, an officer with the Corman Park Police Service attempted to stop the vehicle in relation to a manner-of-driving complaint. The driver failed to stop and fled southbound before crossing the median into oncoming northbound traffic.
The suspect vehicle then collided with a northbound Ford Transit van south of the Highway 16 overpass. The van subsequently caught fire.
The driver of the van, an 82-year-old man, was transported to Royal University Hospital in critical condition. A police officer involved in the earlier attempted stop was also taken to hospital as a precaution.
Three individuals were initially taken into custody following the incident. Charges have since been laid against two individuals in connection to the collision.
Police have charged two males, ages 14 and 24, with Possession of Stolen Property Over $5,000. The 14-year-old faces additional charges including Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm, Failure to Stop After an Accident, and Evading Police. The 24-year-old is also charged with breaching court-imposed conditions.
A third individual who was arrested in connection to the incident has not been charged.
The 82-year-old victim remains in hospital.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the collision, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) has assumed responsibility for the investigation.
