A 30-year-old man died in a single-vehicle crash in north Edmonton moments after hitting a vehicle and fleeing the scene on Saturday afternoon.

Police said a man driving a silver Ford Freestar minivan northbound in an alley between 97 Street and 101 Street allegedly struck a blue Dodge Ram 1500 headed eastbound on 116 Avenue at approximately 3:45 p.m.

The 56-year-old driver of the Dodge Ram 1500 then chased the suspect vehicle as the 30-year-old man attempted to flee the scene, EPS said.

The suspect reportedly drove eastbound down 118 Avenue to 97 Street, and then headed southbound at a high rate of speed, police said.

The 30-year-old man lost control while swerving to avoid a parked vehicle, hit a tree and was trapped inside his vehicle.

Firefighters extracted the suspect from the van, before he was treated and taken to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police said alcohol and speed are believed to be factors.

This is the city’s 15th traffic fatality this year.

On Sunday, family members at the scene of the crash identified the victim as Leonard Hogan.

 “Came to show respect to him, show him that we cared about him and we’re gonna miss him,” Dreah Ward, Hogan’s cousin, told CTV News. “He was a funny guy. He loved everybody, he cared about people, he was a loving father and a great brother to his sister.”

 

 

With files from Jeremy Thompson