A 20-year-old woman from Devon, Alberta, is confronting multiple criminal charges following a severe single-vehicle collision that left five people injured, two with critical, life-threatening wounds. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, has prompted a stern warning from Alberta RCMP about the devastating consequences of driving under the influence.
Details of the Early Morning Collision
Parkland RCMP officers responded to a report of a crash on Athabasca Avenue in Devon just after 12:30 a.m. Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered a vehicle that had lost control, striking a parked car and then a tree. All five occupants of the vehicle, all in their early 20s, sustained injuries of varying severity.
One victim, a 21-year-old woman from Leduc, was airlifted to hospital by the STARS air ambulance. A second victim, a 20-year-old man from Sherwood Park, was transported by ground ambulance with what police described as substantial and serious life-threatening injuries. As of Monday, the condition of the woman flown by STARS had improved significantly, while the man remained with serious injuries. Police noted that all individuals are expected to survive.
Driver Arrested and Charged
The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene. She was taken to a detachment where she provided breath samples that registered more than two times the legal limit. She is now facing multiple pending charges, including the serious offence of impaired driving causing bodily harm. Police have not yet released her name as the charges have not been formally sworn in by a judge.
In a statement, Alberta RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff revealed a troubling detail: "The other occupants in the vehicle knew full well the driver was impaired." This fact underscores a shared responsibility and the profound risk taken by everyone involved.
RCMP Issue Stark Warning on Impaired Driving
Corporal Savinkoff used this incident to highlight a persistent and deadly problem on Alberta roads. He stated that an average of 250 people are killed on highways and roads under RCMP jurisdiction in the province each year, with 25 to 30 percent of those fatal collisions involving impaired driving.
"This just further emphasizes this is irresponsible behaviour that is risking and endangering people's lives," Savinkoff told Postmedia. "It's behaviour like this that can lead to fatalities and serious injuries, and in many serious-injury cases, they can also be life-altering." The RCMP expressed gratitude that no lives were lost in this particular crash but stressed that the outcome is far from guaranteed in similar situations.
The investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash in Devon continues as the community grapples with the avoidable tragedy that has left five young people dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath.
