3 from China die in Edmonton crash

Updated: 2015-02-20 14:01

By NIU YUE(China Daily Canada)

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Two students and a former student from China at the University of Alberta were killed, and another Chinese student was seriously injured when their SUV rolled over on Highway 2 outside Edmonton, Alberta province, on Monday morning.

The three killed were a 20-year-old male, a 24-year-old male and a 20-year-old female, the Edmonton Sun reported. The survivor is a 21-year-old woman. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the SUV was traveling southbound on Highway 2, and came into contact with the shoulder of the roadway, before losing control, the Sun reported. The vehicle rolled several times in the middle of the southbound lanes.

"Words seem inadequate to express the sadness enveloping our campus today. ... On behalf of our university community, I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the students who died. Our thoughts are with the survivor," university President Indira V. Samarasekera wrote in a statement on the school's website Tuesday.

The Chinese consulate general's office said it has contacted the families of the victims with help from the University of Alberta and the Alberta Chinese Students Association, the cbcnews website reported. The Chinese government is securing visas for family members to visit Canada and make funeral arrangements, the website said.

Any motorists who witnessed the accident were asked to contact the Leduc Integrated Traffic Services at 780-980-7267.

A memorial was planned for Wednesday evening at the university.

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