Update on early morning events earlier this week in southwest Calgary

Police continue to investigate two incidents that occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in southwest Calgary.

At approximately 4 a.m., police were called to reports of a single-vehicle collision in the area of 12 Avenue and 1 Street S.W. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found an abandoned white Cadillac with significant body damage. There were no witnesses at the scene and police are still trying to determine the events leading up to this incident.

Also at approximately 4 a.m., police received a call advising them of a woman laying in the road in the area of 15 Avenue by 15 Street S.W. Police and EMS responded to the scene, where the woman was confirmed deceased.

CPS is now able to confirm these two incidents are not connected. The single vehicle collision is being investigated by the Traffic Section and the deceased woman investigation is being conducted by the Homicide Unit.

In relation to the traffic investigation, one man has been interviewed and police are still seeking witnesses in relation to this incident.

In relation to the deceased woman, an autopsy was conducted by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office yesterday. The victim has been identified as Polina Kazanceva, 19, of Toronto. She died as a result of blunt force trauma.

Police are trying to establish why Ms. Kazanceva was in Calgary, what she was doing in the area where she was found deceased and what she was doing in the hours that led up to her death.

If you believe you have information relating to Ms. Kazanceva’s whereabouts prior to her death, please contact the Calgary Police Service Homicide Tip Line at: 403-428-8877.

Police encourage anyone who may have information relating to either of these incidents to contact them at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: tttTIPS.com

TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637