5 killed, 1 child in life-threatening condition after head-on crash near High Prairie, Alta.

RCMP in Alberta said five people are dead and a sixth has been airlifted to hospital in life-threatening condition after a serious collision near High Prairie, Alta., Sunday night.

Around 7 p.m., RCMP responded to a collision on Highway 750, eight kilometres south of Highway 88.

Police said, though it is early in the investigation, it appears that a GMC pickup truck was driving north on the wrong side of the road when it crashed into a minivan in the southbound lane.

The two occupants of the truck, a 36-year-old man from Loon Lake and a 30-year-old woman from Slave Lake died at the scene of the crash, police said.

Police said three people in the minivan were killed: a 65-year-old woman, a 51-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy, all residents of Whitefish Lake First Nation.

A 5-year-old boy, also from Whitefish Lake First Nation, was airlifted to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition, according to RCMP.

RCMP confirmed that the people in the minivan were family members.

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RCMP said officers are still determining the cause of the crash.

“There is some early indication at the scene that alcohol was involved – to what extent, we’re not sure yet,” said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff.

Earlier this month, a five-year-old boy died after being attacked by dogs in Whitefish Lake First Nation, Savinkoff said.

“This is a nation that is already reeling from a very tragic incident,” said Savinkoff.

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