Fatal collision results in Safety Act charge

By Gillian Slade on January 13, 2018.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

An investigation into a collision that claimed the life of a nine-year-old girl on Aug. 7, 2017 has concluded with a fine to a semi-trailer driver levied under the Highway Safety Act.

The collision between the semi and a yellow Pontiac Sunfire took place at the intersection of Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 41 N.

In addition to the nine-year old girl in the Pontiac there were three others, two 12-year-olds and the female driver who were all from Chestermere. They were transported to hospital with serious and life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the semi-truck was not hurt in the collision.

“The driver of the semi in this case was actually given a ticket under provincial law for making an unsafe left turn, a financial penalty,” said S-Sgt. Sean Maxwell, RCMP, on Friday.

It was around 3 p.m. that public holiday Monday that Medicine Hat Fire Service responded to the scene of the accident.

The Pontiac Sunfire had been travelling westbound on the Trans-Canada Highway, heading toward Dunmore. The semi was travelling eastbound and made a left turn onto Highway 41 N.

A technical-type investigation to reconstruct the accident had to take place. That process was completed late last year. The RCMP then required time to speak to those involved.

The RCMP looked at the circumstances that resulted in the accident and did not find an “intent” by the driver of the semi, said Maxwell.

“When you look at the large scheme of things, all you’ve got is somebody making a left-hand turn in an unsafe manner and unfortunately the consequences of that did lead to the death of an individual and some severe injuries for some other passengers in that vehicle,” said Maxwell.

Considering all those aspects it came down to a charge under the safety act, he explained.

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