Vehicle that caused fiery crash on Idylwyld was stolen, police say

A serious crash in Saskatoon shut down part of Idylwyld Drive on the north end of the city after a vehicle fled police on Tuesday. Carla Shynkaruk has more.

A major collision in Saskatoon’s north end brought traffic to a standstill Tuesday morning, leaving one man in critical condition and starting police investigation.

The crash happened on Idylwyld Drive near 58th Street East, shutting down northbound lanes for several hours during peak commute time and much of the day. What began as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated into a dangerous police pursuit.

According to Corman Park Police, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 11 following a driving complaint. The driver fled, heading southbound erratically before crossing the median into oncoming northbound traffic.

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The suspect vehicle, a black Dodge Durango reported stolen out of Prince Albert, collided head-on with a cargo van. The impact ignited the van, sending a thick plume of smoke into the air that could be seen from blocks away.

An 82-year-old man driving the van suffered serious injuries and was transported to hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses describe a chaotic and alarming scene.

“As I turned in by the service road, there was just a big cloud of smoke. You could feel the heat from that far away,” Seth Spilchen who works along the service road where it all played out told CTV News.

Another commuter, Scott Krochak, said he noticed smoke while approaching the scene.

“After that, all the fire trucks showed up and started putting the fire out,” he said.

Emergency crews responded quickly, with police already blocking traffic as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.

Photos and videos of the crash circulated rapidly on social media as drivers shared what they saw during their morning commute.

Saskatoon Police confirm three people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, with charges pending.

The northbound lanes of Idylwyld Drive reopened later in the afternoon.

Authorities are now asking anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. The Serious Incident Response Team is leading the investigation and urging the public to provide any information or video that could assist.