Edmonton police are investigating whether an 18-month-old boy who suffered severe spinal injuries in a car crash Tuesday night was secured properly in his child car seat.

Paramedics help an 18-month-old boy who suffered severe spinal injuries in a car crash Tuesday night.
(CBC)

Const. Tim Eggert of Edmonton police said charges could be laid if the child — whose parents were taken to hospital with minor injuries — wasn't properly belted in.

Various surveys have found that up to 90 per cent of child safety seats are installed incorrectly.

"It is the parent's responsibility to secure the child and secure the seat in there," he said. "There is a charge for both of those, as is with an adult when you are not wearing your seatbelt or not wearing your seatbelt correctly."

The boy was in a compact car that was broadsided by another car at 79th Street and 83rd Avenue. It is unclear if he will survive.

His three-year-old sister in the same car was not seriously injured. No one in the second vehicle sustained any injuries.

Police say speed may have been a factor in the collision, but it could take weeks to wrap up the investigation.

Edmonton police, Capital Health and the Optimist Club hosted a free child restraint safety inspection clinic Wednesday at West Division station.

Last year, they inspected 73 car seats and found 59 per cent weren't being used correctly.