PENHOLD - Motor vehicle drivers killed in two recent Penhold collisions at or near the same highway intersection were not wearing seatbelts, said RCMP.
"I can't say that caused the deaths, but most definitely it increases the severity," said Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk.
The most recent deadly crash on March 13, about 50 metres south of the intersection of highways 2A and 42, claimed the life of an Innisfail man. Ten days earlier on March 3, a Ponoka man was killed when his westbound van on Highway 42 failed to stop at the posted sign and collided with a northbound car on Highway 2A.
"The first one was at the intersection and this one wasn't an intersection-related one but was near the intersection," said Matechuk.
Shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday (March 13) Innisfail RCMP, along with 14 members and five vehicles from the Penhold Fire Department, responded to the multi-vehicle highway accident.
Matechuk said the male driver and lone occupant of a Grand Am travelling north on Highway 2A lost control, and struck a southbound Honda Odyssey.
Penhold Acting Lieut. Josh Wilson said one vehicle (car) was blocking traffic in both directions while another vehicle (van) was partly in the west ditch.
Matechuk said responding RCMP officers found the Grand Am divided into two parts. The driver, a resident of Innisfail, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The name of the deceased has not yet been released.
Wilson said the driver of the van was extricated and transported in serious but non-life-threatening condition to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
A third vehicle was in the ditch and the driver was treated at the scene and released, said Wilson, adding Highway 2A was closed to traffic until 12:30 p.m.
Matechuk said alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash. He added that speed and slippery sections may have contributed to the severity of this collision.
He said Innisfail RCMP along with an RCMP collision analyst continue to investigate. Matechuk said RCMP are not anticipating any charges being laid.
Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk
"The first one was at the intersection and this one wasn't an intersection-related one but was near the intersection."
