Four young people were killed and 15 others were injured in a multi-vehicle collision that shut down Highway 16, August 14.
According to the RCMP, five vehicles were involved in the accident, which happened shortly before 11 p.m. near the B.C.-Alberta border.
Initial indications suggest an eastbound pickup truck collided with several oncoming vehicles, including a westbound pickup truck. The male driver of the eastbound pickup truck and the three passengers in the westbound pickup truck (two males, one female) were killed. The injured were taken to several area hospitals, including the Seton Jasper Healthcare Centre.
The accident forced police to close the highway in both directions until the following morning.
"It's still under investigation and it will take a bit of time for the analyst to get his report to us and we're still waiting for the autopsy results and toxicology reports" said RCMP acting Sgt. Ryan Gardiner.
According to a press release, investigators will be looking into whether speed, alcohol and weather played a factor in the crash.
"I was happy with how we responded," said Gardiner, who said car accidents of this magnitude are not very common, although last summer they also responded to a four person fatality on Highway 93.
Police are not releasing the names of the victims, but confirmed the deceased include: an 18-year-old male from Carvel, Alta., a 28-year-old male from Spruce Grove, Alta., a 22-year-old female from Peace River, Alta., and a 21-year-old male from Edmonton, Alta.
Officers from an RCMP collision reconstructionist team and the Edmonton medical examiner's office are assisting with the investigation.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
