COLLISIONS
Motorists are urged to defensively drive with caution now that the snow has arrived.
On Nov. 30, eight collisions in Stettler and surrounding area were reported to police. Most were minor property damage incidents.
On Nov. 23, at about 2:50 p.m., a vehicle rolled along Highway 56 four miles south of Stettler. The vehicle was a semi-tractor pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with scrap metal, predominantly old refrigerators. The south-bound semi entered the right shoulder, corrected, causing the trailer to skid and roll. The rolled vehicle entirely blocked the highway, spewing the trailer contents over a large area of the roadway.
Several heavy duty tow trucks were brought in from Red Deer and Drumheller along with other clean up equipment. The highway remained closed to traffic for nearly six hours. The driver was not injured. Charges were not laid.
On Nov. 27, at 6:30 a.m. Stettler RCMP were dispatched to a serious injury collision just north of the intersection of Highway 601 on Highway 56 north of Stettler. Town of Stettler fire, emergency services, a Stettler county patrol officer also attended the scene.
As a result of further investigation, it is believed a red 2005 Jeep TJ, driven by a lone male occupant, aged 25 from the Donalda area, collided with a 2002 Silver Chrysler Intrepid, being driven by a 42-year- old male from Stettler area. Both vehicles were heavily damaged in the collision. Emergency services used the jaws of life to extricate the driver of the Intrepid. The driver of Jeep was airlifted to University of Alberta Hospital by STARS air ambulance, with serious but undetermined injuries. The driver of the Intrepid was transported by ground ambulance with serious but undetermined injuries. No update on either driver is available at this time.
Both north- and south-bound traffic on Highway 56 was diverted for approximately four hours. Road conditions at the time were icy in spots as a result of overnight moisture.
The collision is still under investigation. No decision on any charges has been made. Further information will be released once it becomes available.
On Nov. 30, at 12.15 p.m., a cyclist was struck while riding in the snow in the 5100 block of 50 Avenue in Stettler. Stettler Fire and Rescue and EMS attended and transported the injured female cyclist to Stettler Hospital for treatment. Injuries sustained were not life threatening. The investigation continues and charges have not been laid against those involved.
ARMED ROBBERY
On Nov. 30 at 10 p.m., the Beat Lounge at the Stettler Hotel, was robbed by two persons. One male wore a mask and is described as about 6-feet in height, dark hair, wearing a blue jacket and jeans. The other male remained a distance away and a better description is not available. A knife was involved and no one was injured during the robbery.
VANDALISM
On Nov. 25, a vehicle parked in the 5400 block of 60 Street in Stettler suffered body damage.
On Nov. 29, a trailer had a window broken while parked in the 4800 block of 58 Street in Stettler. Also a residential unit in the 6000 block of 50 Avenue had a window broken, a glass door on a health building in the 5900 block of 47 Avenue was broken, and a window was broken at Stettler Hospital. At the hospital a 22-year-old new resident to Stettler was arrested in an intoxicated state. He was released with charges pending for the mischief to the property and for drug possession (marihuana and hashish) and will enter a plea on Jan. 14 in Stettler Provincial Court.
THEFT
On Nov. 24, diesel was stolen from a parked tractor and some property damaged at a private residence in the 4700 block of 54 Street in Stettler.
On Nov. 25, property was stolen from a residence in the 4600 block of 53 Street in Stettler.
On Nov. 26, overnight, a business was broken into in the 4700 block of 50 Street in Stettler. Computer equipment was stolen.
On Nov. 26, at 9:05 p.m. a customer left a Stettler gas station without paying. Police intercepted the vehicle and it was determined no theft occurred and a mistake was made by the vehicle occupants as to who was to pay. The next day at 5:45 p.m. a similar incident occurred at another gas station. The vehicle was not located and is described as a black Dodge pickup truck.
On Nov. 30, a license plate was stolen off a vehicle parked in the northwest area of the County of Stettler. Missing is Alberta plate LUM-502.
On Nov. 30, overnight, a business in the 4400 block of 42 Street in Stettler was broken into and property was stolen.
Anyone with information that would assist police in solving these or any other crimes is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or send an email to www.tipsubmit.com.