A 26-year-old Stettler man and a 28-year-old Ponoka woman were driving in a stolen black 2008 Toyota Yaris, which had been reported stolen from Red Deer the previous day. Around 9 p.m., they “accessed Highway 12, entered the eastbound lane, and struck” the other vehicle, according to Cpl. Cameron Russell from the Stettler RCMP detachment.
The other vehicle, a red 2008 Ford Focus, was driven by a 41-year-old Stettler woman, who was accompanied by her 15-year-old daughter. The black car ended up in the south ditch and the red in the north ditch.
The occupants of the black car had to be extracted by Stettler Fire and Rescue, which arrived on scene shortly past 9 p.m. The four individuals were taken to Stettler hospital and released, though the occupants of the black vehicle were released directly into RCMP custody.
Both are facing a charge each of possession of stolen property over $5,000, though the driver, the man, is also facing additional charges of driving a vehicle while uninsured, stunt driving, failure to obey stop sign and driving without a driver's licence.
“(The driver) has a very long history with police,” Russell said, noting that as of recently, the accused has been residing in Red Deer though he is originally from Stettler.
Thefts continue
Though there weren't any break-ins to the industrial areas of the Town of Stettler this past week, Russell said three pick-up trucks were stolen in the same night.
“They were targeting Ford super-duty trucks,” he said, confirming that the all three stolen vehicles were of that brand.
Russell said that when there are crimes of this nature, organized and precise, it usually means an out-of-town crew is casing the community and is making quick thefts and leaving.
To help ensure people are not a victim of these thieves, Russell said that people should not leave their keys in their car and make sure doors are locked.
“Don't leave personal belongings or valuables in your car or in plain sight,” he noted.
May long weekend blitz
The only type of blitz that should be on the road this weekend is the police's impaired driving campaign, Russell said.
While the first summery long-weekend is often the time when people go out to enjoy the weather, often in the company of alcohol, getting “blitzed” and behind the wheel is not only illegal but dangerous idea.
“We will be out in force this weekend,” he said. “We've taken four impaired drivers off the road already this month, and we'll be looking for them this weekend.”