Impaired driving crash in Devon injured five, two critically: Alberta RCMP

A 20-year-old woman from Devon is facing multiple impaired driving charges after a single-vehicle collision injured five people including two critically on Saturday.

Just after 12:30 a.m. officers with Parkland RCMP received a report of a collision on Athabasca Avenue in Devon, said police in a Monday news release.

Emergency crews tended to five occupants of the vehicle, and after an investigation it was determined the vehicle lost control, striking a parked vehicle and a tree.

Police said all occupants of the vehicle were injured to varying degrees, with one person being transported to hospital by STARS air ambulance, while another was transported by ground ambulance with serious life-threatening injuries.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was arrested and taken to the detachment where they provided breath samples more than two times over the legal limit.

The driver has multiple charges pending, including impaired driving causing bodily harm.

“All five people involved in the collision suffered injuries of various degrees,” said Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff in an interview with Postmedia on Tuesday.

“As of (Monday), the victim that was transported by air ambulance, their condition has improved significantly. The other person who was taken by ground ambulance, their injuries were quite substantial and they suffered significant, serious injuries.

“We’re thankful that in this case, everyone is expected to survive, but far too often, that’s not the case.”

Savinkoff confirmed the person flown by STARS air ambulance was a 21-year-old woman from Leduc, while the person sent to hospital by ground ambulance was a 20-year-old man from Sherwood Park.

Police have yet to release the name of the driver, who is facing criminal charges, because the offences haven’t been sworn in by a judge, yet.

Savinkoff said that an average of 250 people are killed on Alberta highways and RCMP jurisdiction roads every year, and that 25-30 per cent of those collisions involve impaired driving.

“In this particular case, we had five people, all in their early 20s, all went out drinking together. The other occupants in the vehicle knew full well the driver was impaired,” said Savinkoff.

“This just further emphasizes this is irresponsible behaviour that is risking and endangering people’s lives. 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.”

Because the charges have yet to be sworn in, no information has been provided as to when the woman’s next court appearance may be.

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