NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
A vehicle and pickup truck are seen at the site of a serious motor vehicle collision at the corner of Parkview Drive and 12th Street. N.E. around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon. An 18 year-old woman from Medicine Hat was killed in the collision. A 25-year-old man from Medicine Hat is facing numerous charges including dangerous driving causing death.
A 25-year-old Medicine Hat man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death following multiple collisions in Crescent Heights on Monday afternoon that left an 18-year-old woman dead.
“Our hearts go out to the family, it’s on our minds,” said Insp. Joe West about the death of the young Medicine Hat woman whose name police are not yet releasing. Family has been notified.
Cody David Michell also faces charges of dangerous driving, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and attempting to disarm a police officer. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be laid.
Michell appeared before a the Medicine Hat court Tuesday morning. He will be applying for legal aid and has reserved seeking bail at this time. The Crown is opposed to his release. His matters were adjourned until Sept. 26.
Police say the string of collisions began with the theft of a pickup truck with an attached utility trailer from Bassett Crescent N.W. just after 1 p.m. The driver fled the scene, reportedly reaching a speed of close to 100 km/h and at the intersection of 12th Street N.E. and Division Avenue collided with a mini-van, flipping that vehicle and causing a collision with another. The driver fled that scene in the stolen truck and continued down 12th Street at an extreme speed.
Upon reaching Parkview Drive N.E. the truck, still travelling at a high rate of speed, struck a Toyota Camry in the intersection. The female driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The male suspect did sustain some minor injuries from the collision, said West, and was taken to hospital for treatment.
During treatment, “he made a focused and purposeful attempt to pull the officer’s pistol from the holster,” said West, although the officer with assistance from other medical staff were able to overcome him.
The officer was never disarmed, said West, explaining that holsters have retention mechanisms so pistols are not easy to get out unless trained — although it’s not impossible.
“We do train for that, in our controlled tactics training.”
Impairment is part of the investigation, said West, however investigating this is “a lot more complex” than a normal alcohol impaired investigation.
“We’ve gathered enough evidence to lay the charges obviously, as for the motive, I can’t speak to that at this point,” said West. The initial theft of the pickup truck does seem like it was a crime of opportunity, he said.
Police are asking for anyone who witnessed any of these events to contact the Traffic Unit at 403-529-8471, if you have not already provided a statement.
