Slippery road conditions in and around Innisfail forced local RCMP to respond to an abnormally high number of motor vehicle accidents last week.
From December 12 to 18, Innisfail RCMP was called to 24 motor vehicle crashes. None of them caused injuries or extensive damage.
There were eight on Dec. 12, including one on Highway 2A between a motor vehicle and a moose. Cpl. Jeff Hildebrandt said there was damage to the vehicle but the condition of the moose as a result of the crash was unknown.
Hildebrandt said there was another five accidents on Dec. 13, four more the following day, two on Dec. 15, one on Dec. 16, another on Dec. 17 and three more on Dec. 18.
“It is essential for safety to drive to road conditions and weather,” said Hildebrandt. “Safe stopping distance between your vehicles is paramount.”
Man charged in school bus accident
Traffic charges have been laid against a man following an accident between a pickup truck and a school bus this month.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Cindie Dennis said the collision occurred at about 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 5 near the intersection of Highway 54 and 56 Street.
She said a school bus, transporting 18 schoolchildren, was rear-ended by a pickup truck. No one was injured in the incident, said Dennis.
The 20-year-old driver of the pickup truck was charged with having an unregistered and unlicensed vehicle, improperly displaying his licence plate and following too closely behind another vehicle.
The man will appear in Red Deer provincial court on Jan. 20 to answer to the charges.
Assaults at prison probed
Innisfail RCMP is investigating the assault of two Bowden Institution inmates.
The incident occurred sometime before 9 p.m. on Dec. 10, said a statement released by Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).
The injured inmates were immediately evaluated by staff members and transported to an outside hospital to receive treatment.
CSC said no staff members or other inmates were injured during this incident. Two assailants have been identified and the appropriate actions have been taken, said CSC.
The warden of the prison has ordered a lockdown and an exceptional search of part of the institution, said CSC. The agency said normal activities will resume when it is considered safe to do so.
Visits have been suspended until the search is completed.
The Correctional Service of Canada will investigate the circumstances of this incident and continue to work with the police, said the statement.
Crash leaves woman in serious condition
One woman was left in serious condition following a two-vehicle crash earlier this month in Penhold.
At about 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 four Penhold Fire Department crews, as well as a rescue crew from Innisfail, were dispatched to a collision on Highway 2A at Emma Street.
A female driver of one of the vehicles, described as in her 20s, was taken to hospital in serious condition. Fire crews provided medical assistance, fluid and debris cleanup and traffic control. Highway 2A was shut down for about 90 minutes in both directions.
Jim Pendergast, Penhold's fire chief, said the driver of the second vehicle was not injured. He said both vehicles sustained “heavy damage".
Police investigate burglaries
Innisfail RCMP is seeking the public's assistance in solving a rural residential break-in that occurred around midnight on Dec. 15.
RCMP said a suspect broke the back door of the residence, located south of town, and stole multiple belongings, including cellphones, jewelry, laptops, sewing kits and other household goods.
Police said its primary concern was that the suspect stole rifles from the residence.
RCMP is also investigating a Dec. 9 break-in to a residence in Innisfail on 46 Ave.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Cindie Dennis said the owners were on holidays and the front door was left unlocked. She said a number of personal items were removed. There was no damage to the house nor to the rest of its remaining contents.
“We have had quite a few break-ins this year. There are still groups out there breaking into places,” said Dennis.
She said Penhold Building Supplies on Lucina Street was burglarized on Dec. 11. Dennis said the front door was smashed to gain entry and money was stolen.
If any citizen has information about any of these break-ins he or she is asked to call Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Tail light thief wanted by police
Someone is stealing tail lights from motor vehicles in Penhold.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Cindie Dennis said sometime in the evening and early morning of Dec. 8 and 9 three pickups in Penhold had their tail lights stolen.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Cindie Dennis said the lights were cut out from the wire and removed. She said the stolen lights were stock models and not worth a great deal of money.
However, if any citizen has information about the stolen tail lights he or she is asked to call Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
