CALGARY -- A woman killed by a hit-and-run driver Sunday morning was described as deeply religious and was travelling to church with her family at the time.

Marlgorzata (Margaret) Pulwicki, 58, died in the crash that also injured her husband, Bonisacy.

Their teenage son, Robert, an alter boy, had been driving, but wasn't injured.

The Polish family had been on their way to Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Parish at 2111 Uxbridge Dr. N.W. to attend morning mass when the crash happened, said Pastor Czeslaw Rybacki.

"It was a pious family," he said.

"They are devastated by this accident."

Cops have laid charges, including criminal negligence causing death, against a 26-year-old man in relation to the fatal hit and run.

It's believed the accused was impaired by a drug at the time of the crash, which happened about 10:45 a.m. at 20 Ave. and 10 St. N.W., said police spokesman Kevin Brookwell.

The fatal collision happened after a Ford F-150 truck ran a red light and broad-sided a Saturn station wagon carrying Pulwicki and her family, sending it careening into a Nissan Sentra.

The accused, Christopher James Rae, of no fixed address, is known to police, Brookwell said.

Charges have not been laid against the passenger of the Ford truck, whom Brookwell said was arrested on an outstanding warrant and is also known to cops.

"There may be further charges coming against either the driver or passenger or both," Brookwell said.

The crash happened about a minute after two men were seen attempting to break into a truck parked near 24 Ave. and 5 St. N.W.

Police are also investigating whether the suspects were involved in the initial theft of the truck, which was stolen two weeks earlier and if the vehicle was involved in the commission of any other crimes.

Brookwell said the tragic crash has taken a toll on the family, particularly Pulwicki's son.

"I can only imagine that's something that's going to weigh heavily on that young man for many years," he said.

"Wrong place at wrong time, doing nothing but travelling on a normal day going through a green light and then hit by this stolen vehicle."

Rae is charged with criminal negligence causing death, hit and run, impaired driving causing death (drugs), failure to comply or refusal (drugs), and possession of stolen property.

KATIE.SCHNEIDER@SUNMEDIA.CA