UPDATE: RCMP have received several media inquiries requesting updates on the investigation into the fatal motor-vehicle collision on Hwy 16 near Lloydminster on Friday.
"We certainly appreciate the level of public interest in this case, however the RCMP is still engaged in an active, ongoing investigation and at this time, we are not in a position to provide any further details," says an RCMP email.
"We are committed to providing further information as it becomes available and that includes any charges that may be laid in relation to this file."
UPDATE: Maidstone RCMP – Fatal Motor-Vehicle Collision
The RCMP’s investigation into the collision is ongoing and they are able to provide some additional information at this time.
The stolen truck involved in the collision was a three-quarter ton, heavy-duty, flat-deck. It was the subject of investigation by Maidstone RCMP earlier that morning, along with two other stolen vehicles.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., members from the Maidstone detachment were investigating three suspicious vehicles when they located two of them near the junction of Hwy 303 and Hwy 16. The third suspicious vehicle – the flat-deck truck – was then observed driving in the vicinity. Members activated their emergency equipment and attempted a traffic stop. The suspect vehicle fled. Members initiated a pursuit and notified the monitoring supervisor. Upon assessment, the supervisor terminated the pursuit.
“F” Division Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki says, “the pursuit was terminated in accordance with the RCMP’s Emergency Vehicle Operation policy. Given that pursuits pose a serious risk to the public, the RCMP developed national policy that outlines the requirements for initiating a pursuit, the ongoing monitoring and assessing, and the decision to continue or terminate a pursuit.”
In this case, a pursuit was initiated, quickly assessed and the decision was made to terminate it in accordance with policy.
The collision occurred approximately 35 minutes after the pursuit was terminated. No police vehicles were in the vicinity at the time of the collision.
On behalf of Saskatchewan RCMP, Assistant Commissioner Zablocki offers condolences and deepest sympathies to the families impacted by this tragedy.
Further updates on this investigation will be provided as they become available.
BACKGROUND: At approximately 3:10 a.m. on Friday Sept. 22, Maidstone RCMP were called to a serious, two-vehicle collision on Hwy 16 approximately 5 kms. east of Lloydminster.
A heavy-duty, flat-deck truck had collided with a mini-van in the east-bound lane. Two of the occupants of the mini-van were confirmed deceased at the scene. Both victims were female, ages 37 and 35 years. A third occupant – a 53-year-old female – later succumbed to her injuries.The fourth and final occupant – a 32-year-old female – was air-lifted to hospital in Edmonton. Her condition is unknown. All are from Edmonton.
The truck had been reported stolen the previous evening from the Lloydminster area. The occupant(s) had fled the scene prior to police arriving. One suspect – a 26-year-old male – was located in the area and is in custody. The investigation continues to determine if more suspects were involved.
Maidstone RCMP were assisted at the scene by local EMS and Fire Rescue. This investigation is ongoing with assistance from the RCMP Traffic Reconstruction Unit as well as the Office of the Provincial Coroner.
Traffic was restricted at the scene for several hours, but has since been fully re-opened.
Further to this investigation, Maidstone RCMP are able to confirm that in the early morning hours of Sept. 22nd, members were investigating a complaint involving multiple stolen vehicles, including the truck that was later involved in the collision.
Correction: A previous version of this article noted the deceased as being 27 and 25 years old. The RCMP sent a correction at 3:04p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, stating the deceased had been 37 and 35 years old, rather than 27 and 25.
