Grassy Lake crash victims include Alberta sheriff Chris Gerbrandt

Alberta sheriffChris Gerbrandt and a woman have died in an early morning two-vehicle crash about eight kilometres east of Grassy Lake, Alta on Highway 3 Saturday.

Grassy Lake is about 85 kilometres east of Lethbridge.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Low-income Calgarians dig deep for sick and disadvantaged children
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Alberta flood report outlines how province can improve disaster response

Gerbrandt was off-duty at the time of the crash, but his"dedication and service to the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as the Alberta Sheriffs, was the standard by which we all aspired to achieve," the225 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron,Taber Comet, said in a Facebook post.

RCMP say the woman, driving a 2005 Pontiac car heading east, crossed the centre line and struck Gerbrandt's westbound Chevrolet pickup truck at about 7:30 a.m.

Both drivers were declared deceased at the scene.

Two passengers in the truck were taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said.

Alcohol has been ruled out as a factorin the crash but distracted driving and speed arebeing considered in the investigation.