A man is being investigated for impaired driving causing death after a head-on collision Sunday night on the QEII Highway that claimed four lives.
RCMP, integrated traffic, fire and rescue services, and emergency medical services responded to the scene on the south edge of Innisfail at 11:10 p.m., Const. Doug Dewar of the RCMP Innisfail Integrated Traffic Unit said in a release.
The accident occurred when a northbound SUV was travelling in the southbound lane and collided with a southbound automobile, Dewar said.
“Alcohol appears to be a factor,” he said.
Four people from the southbound vehicle died as a result of the collision, while a fifth person was transported to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. In a later interview, Dewar said the fifth person was critically injured.
Names are not being released until the next of kin are contacted but all four dead were living in the Edmonton area, Dewar said.
The driver of the northbound vehicle was treated and released at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Dewar said he refused to provide a breath sample and is being held in custody by the RCMP.
The 29-year-old Cochrane man is being investigated for four possible charges of impaired driving causing death. His name cannot be released until he is charged.
