A 36-year-old man from Langdon has been charged in the death of Katie Ditto, 21, also of Langdon, who was killed in a two-vehicle collision April 19 on Highway 797.
Scott Andrews faces charges of impaired driving causing death, impaired driving over .08 causing death and dangerous driving causing death, according to Alberta RCMP Media Spokesperson Corporal Laurel Scott.
Four months after the incident, the loss of Ditto is still raw and difficult for her family, including her father, Brian.
“We’re not supposed to bury our kids,” he said. “I’ve had my better days, but it never leaves your mind.”
Brian said he and his daughter were very close, often watching football and hockey games together and developing a strong relationship even as Ditto grew older.
“She (once) wrote an essay on her hero, and it was me,” he said. “It would bring me to tears, and it did at first when I read it. I didn’t know she was writing it, but it was how she was.”
When news broke of the collision, Langdon community members organized a gofundme page to help support the family with funeral costs and expenses, remembering Ditto as having a “kind, fearless soul, caring heart and sense of humour (that) will forever be missed by all.” As of Aug. 12, the gofundme page had raised $16,375 for the family.
But the continued impact on Ditto’s family, including her six-year-old brother, Cooper, has been painful.
“She did everything with that little man. Anything and everything. She was an amazing person,” Brian said. “He’s just old enough to sort of understand, but not really. He doesn’t really.”
Strathmore RCMP responded to the collision at approximately 11 p.m. just south of Langdon on Highway 797.
According to Alberta RCMP Media Spokesman Sergeant Jack Poitras, the incident occurred when a truck traveling northbound crossed the centre line.
“The driver of the truck was injured, but the other one was deceased at the scene. It was the innocent driver (who was killed),” he said in April.
The drivers of the two vehicles were the lone occupants. Andrews was transported to a Calgary-area hospital with serious injuries.
At the time of the collision, Poitras said toxicology tests were being conducted on the driver of the truck but that results might not be known for quite some time. Andrews was finally charged Aug. 3.
Speaking generally about impaired driving cases, Scott said compiling all of the evidence required to lay charges can take some time.
“I can’t speak to the particular evidence to this case or how it was collected,” she said.
However, the charges give little relief to Brian.
“(This guy) gets to enjoy most of his summer,” he said. “I don’t feel vindicated at all. They took his blood that night in the hospital. Three and a half months later (he’s charged)? That’s ridiculous. There’s no need for that whatsoever.”
An evening candle light vigil for Ditto was held April 22 at the accident scene on Highway 797. Balloons were also released in remembrance of Ditto.
Ditto was studying to become a surgical nurse and had dreams to travel, according to Brian.
Andrews will appear in Strathmore Provincial Court on Sept. 2.
