Fatal single-vehicle collision on Highway 845

Nikki Jamieson
Southern Alberta Newspapers

A single-vehicle collision on Highway 845 last week resulted in three fatalities, all of whom are believed to be from the Raymond area.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, Coaldale RCMP and the Coaldale and District Fire Department responded the collision on Highway 845, just south of Highway 4.
The initial investigation revealed that a grey Ford Freestar minivan was heading northbound on Highway 845, when it drove off of the highway on a curve just before the CP Rail tracks.
The minivan then entered a deep ditch, striking with significant impact on the north bank, before coming to a rest on the rail tracks.
The speed zone transitioned just south of the collision area from 100 km/hour to 65 km/hour.
The stretch of highway where the accident occurred was closed to allow emergency personnel to work, and reopened around 10 p.m.
All three occupants of the minivan — a man and two women — were pronounced deceased at the scene from impact-type injuries.
The names of the deceased will not be released, and next of kin notification is ongoing. The cause of the collision is currently unknown.
“There was not a lot of skid marks and stuff, so we’re not sure what caused them to not take the corner safely and go into the ditch,” said S-Sgt. Glenn Henry of the Coaldale RCMP.
Henry thanked the members of the Coaldale and District Fire Department for their work, saying they did a “fantastic job again” when responding to the collision.