Police search for hit-and-run semi driver RCMP in Innisfail and other detachments are looking for a hit-and-run semi-truck driver who smashed into a police cruiser during dangerous winter driving highway conditions on Jan. 14.
Police search for hit-and-run semi driver
RCMP in Innisfail and other detachments are looking for a hit-and-run semi-truck driver who smashed into a police cruiser during dangerous winter driving highway conditions on Jan. 14.
The police officer was in the cruiser at the time of the crash and he narrowly escaped serious injury.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. A.J. Mand said Const. Stephen Molnar was attending a three-vehicle collision on the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway between Gasoline Alley and Highway 42 when an oncoming northbound semi-truck jack-knifed in icy road conditions. Mand said the tail end of the semi struck the police cruiser with Molnar inside.
He said the police officer was not injured. The cruiser was badly damaged. The driver of the semi failed to stop after the crash.
Mand said RCMP is continuing its investigation into the crash and police are still searching for the driver of the semi. Meanwhile, the dangerous driving conditions that existed on local and regional highways on Jan. 14 forced the Innisfail RCMP detachment to respond to a total of 18 collisions, said Mand.
He said there were no major injuries from any of the crashes but there was property damage to many of the affected vehicles.
Court date set for busted drug couple
An Innisfail couple who were arrested Jan. 10 on drug charges during a police raid will be in Red Deer court on Feb. 21.
Following the bust, Steven Boyd, 24 and Jaime Walline, 32, were charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking as well as possession of psilocybin (mushrooms) for the purpose of trafficking.
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. A.J. Mand said RCMP seized 100 grams of psilocybin and 500 grams of marijuana during the bust at a north-side residence.
The couple were released shortly after their arrest on a promise to appear in court, said Mand.
Suspicious prison letter probed
Innisfail RCMP was called last week to probe a suspicious letter that was sent to an inmate at the Bowden Institution.
RCMP Cpl. A.J. Mand said Bowden staff intercepted a letter that was "laced" with drugs.
He said the inmate has not been charged but RCMP are investigating the origin of the letter.
Mand said Innisfail RCMP has received several calls in the past from the institution to look into similar illegal mail deliveries.
Cops nab suspected impaired driver
A Fort McMurray man is facing drunk driving charges after being arrested by RCMP along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (QEII).
Innisfail RCMP Cpl. A.J. Mand said an officer was driving southbound on the QEII at about 10:55 p.m. on Jan. 7 when a vehicle was noticed parking on the side of the highway.
Mand said the police officer stopped to investigate. The 32-year-old male driver of the vehicle was visibly impaired and he was arrested.
The suspect later provided two breath samples and his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. The man was charged with impaired driving.
Meanwhile, Innisfail RCMP officers were kept busy during the evening of Jan. 9 and into Jan. 10 when a winter storm blew into the region making local and regional roads and highways hazardous.
Mand said the local detachment members were called to eight accidents, all on the QEII.
"The road conditions were horrible, icy with large amounts of snow that fell with wind blowing. Visibility was a problem," said Mand, adding drivers should exercise common sense when encountering threatening weather and road conditions. "Just because the speed limit might be 110 kilometres an hour, it doesn’t mean you should drive that fast. You should drive as fast as you can safely control the vehicle. Slow down and make sure you can see your surroundings."
