Updated: Fri Nov. 20 2009 18:01:16

ctvedmonton.ca

A police chase ended tragically near Hinton Thursday afternoon after a suspect vehicle collided head-on with a pickup truck killing both drivers.

The incident started when Jasper RCMP responded to a call of a minivan driving erratically. Police say after locating the vehicle, officers attempted to pull it over but the vehicle would not stop.

Shortly after, the vehicle was met by two additional RCMP cars as it entered Hinton. Police say the driver of the minivan, a 21-year-old male, again failed to stop for police and the officers then began a high speed chase through the town.

"It was a dangerous situation and we all knew that. Doing that kind of speed on that highway," said witness Troy Erickson.

Investigators say the pursuit continued and the van eventually ended up going the wrong way on Highway 16 on the eastern outskirts of Hinton.

"As it was exiting the town of Hinton along the eastern boundary, still travelling the wrong direction in the westbound lanes of travel, it encountered two vehicles," said Clifford Purvis with the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).

One driver avoided the van but a pickup, driven by a 30-year-old male, crashed head-on with the van causing the van to burst into flames.

The RCMP say officers immediately tried to pull out the driver of the pickup but the vehicle exploded. Police believe neither driver survived the initial impact of the crash.

"The flames had to be 10, 15 feet in the air. It was devastating, absolutely devastating," said another witness Allan Griffiths.

ASIRT is now investigating the case.

"It will be thorough," said Purvis. "After gathering all the facts, we will examine the conduct of the RCMP officers that were involved in this incident and determine whether their actions were justified and lawful."

Purvis said the minivan involved in the crash was stolen.

Police will work with the medical examiner to determine the identities of the dead.

Officials said they've obtained video from the dashboard cameras in the two police cruisers that followed the suspect vehicle.

"We've secured the evidence so we have a very clear visual of what police were looking at when they were involved in this situation," said Purvis.

ASIRT is asking for witnesses to come forward with information.

With files from Scott Roberts