A careless driving charge is pending against an 18-year-old Sundre man after police say he rear-ended an SUV east of Sundre in the late afternoon on Jan. 9, while driving his car.
ìThe SUV and car were eastbound on Highway 27 near the intersection of Highway 22 south, and the SUV slowed for another vehicle unrelated that was merging to head eastbound as well,î said Sundre RCMP Const. Abe Letkeman.
ìThe red car did not slow adequately and rear-ended the SUV hard enough that the front end of the car went right under the SUV,î he explained.
ìAnd then when the SUV came off of the car, it swerved into the opposing lane and a westbound minivan collided head on with the SUV.î
The 40-year-old female driver of the minivan was taken to hospital and released later that day. The 22-year-old female driver of the SUV, along with the two men and one woman who were in the car, were assessed at the scene but not taken to hospital. The three occupants of the car are Sundre residents and were all under the age of 20.
ìAlthough the merging vehicle caused the SUV to slow down, the collision was caused by the car that rear-ended the SUV,î said Letkeman.
The SUV and the minivan received major front-end damage from the collision. The SUV also received minor rear-end damage and the car received moderate front-end damage, he said.
ìPay attention while driving. Limit distractions. Obviously distracted driving can come in many forms. Cellphones, or whether it's eating or being too involved with other people in the vehicle in conversations,î he advised.
ìJust pay attention to the road in front of you. Every driver is responsible for what happens to the vehicle that they are in control of.î
One of the male occupants of the car commented on the accident at the scene but declined to provide his name.
ìA gravel truck turned off of Highway 22 going east and he tried merging off and he cut off this Ford Escape (the SUV) and then we came up, rear-ended her, went underneath the back and then she kind of veered off in the other lane and hit that van,î he said.
ìIt was sketchy.î
