Police say speed and alcohol might have played a role in a collision that left a 15-year-old girl dead near Rocky Mountain House last week.
Emergency crews were called to the scene of a single-vehicle rollover southwest of the Rocky Mountain House townsite at around 10:44 p.m. last Friday.
The driver of a northeast-bound vehicle on Highway 752 — known locally as Cow Lake Road — was said to have lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the roadway and strike an approach. The vehicle rolled a number of times before coming to rest on its roof.
Police say the driver was ejected from the vehicle, while the vehicle’s other three occupants were believed to have not been wearing seatbelts.
A 15-year-old girl was declared dead on scene, while the vehicle’s 21-year-old male driver was taken to hospital in Calgary via STARS Air Ambulance. At press time, he was listed in critical condition.
Another 17-year-old girl was taken to hospital in Edmonton via STARS, and at press time was in serious but stable condition.
A 19-year-old man was transported via ground ambulance to hospital nearby. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being subsequently released.
Police on Saturday said they believed both speed and alcohol were involved in the collision, which is still under investigation by Rocky Mountain House RCMP and the Calgary Medical Examiner’s Office.
Charges were pending at press time. An update is expected as further information on the incident becomes available.
Names of the individuals involved have not been released. Rocky and District Victim Services has been providing assistance to those affected by the incident.
Police on Tuesday said another collision in the area — this time on Monday between a small car and a gravel truck about 10 kilometres west of Rocky Mountain House — claimed the life of a 20-year-old man.
Charges in that incident are also pending.