ÎYÂRHE NAKODA – Cochrane RCMP are laying impaired driving charges from one Îyârhe Nakoda First Nation resident to another, following a fatal collision on Highway 1A last summer that took the life of a Fort Saskatchewan woman.
Deirdre Snow, 29, has been charged with impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, impaired driving while having a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood causing death, impaired driving while having a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80 mg per 100 ml of blood causing bodily harm and public mischief.
On August 19, 2022, Cochrane RCMP and EMS were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 1A near Morley Road involving a motorcycle and SUV.
The investigation revealed the SUV was travelling west on the narrow highway when it crossed the yellow center line and collided head on with the motorcycle.
The driver of the motorcycle, 53-year-old Samantha Wylie from Fort Saskatchewan, was declared deceased at the scene.
Officers originally charged Kendra Bigstony, 33, with the same crimes as Snow, plus failure to remain at the scene of an accident, and driving while suspended or disqualified.
According to RCMP, however, it was later determined that it was actually Snow driving the vehicle at the time of the collision.
"When [officers] initially arrived on scene, somebody had told them Bigstony was driving the vehicle, or seen exiting the vehicle," said media relations officer Cpl. Lacey Blair. "Upon further investigation, we were able to determine that she was in the vehicle but not in the driver's seat."
As a result, Bigstony's charges will be dropped at an upcoming court date.
Snow was held for a judicial interim hearing and will appear in Cochrane Provincial Court May 2.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. The position covers Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and Kananaskis Country.
