Cochrane RCMP is investigating a head on collision June 10 that claimed the life of a man in his 30s, according to Sergeant Randy Pack.
“The investigation is in its early stages,” he said. “It takes time because we have to wait for the reports to come back and sometimes that can take months.”
A van traveling eastbound that had three occupants and a westbound SUV with a single male driver collided on Highway 1A in the area of Horse Creek Road at approximately 11:15 a.m.
EMS from Cochrane, Calgary and the Stoney Nakoda First Nation attended the scene, according to EMS Spokesman Stuart Brideaux.
“All patients required extrication,” he said. “The driver of the van was the man declared deceased at the scene. He was believed to be in his 30s.”
The male driver of the SUV was transported by Nakoda EMS in serious, life-threatening condition, Brideaux said.
The backseat passenger of the van, a man in his mid-20s, was transported to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary in serious, non life-threatening condition.
STARS Air Ambulance was also called to assist, according to Spokesperson Fatima Khawaja, and assumed care of the front seat female passenger from the van.
“We were dispatched at 11:26 a.m. from the Calgary base,” she said. “We transported a female patient in her 20s – we weren’t able to get confirmation of her exact age – in serious, potentially life-threatening condition to the Foothills.”
Fire crews from Cochrane were also at the scene to assist with extrication of the occupants.
Pack said he did not know if any charges would be laid in the collision, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Highway 1A was closed in both directions for approximately three hours.
Case update
A man accused of uttering threats was in Airdrie Provincial Court June 16.
Randy Omar VanMackleberg, 51, who is no longer in custody, appeared in court along with his lawyer, Jason Demers.
VanMackleberg was arrested and charged after Airdrie Rural RCMP executed a search warrant at a rural residence near CrossIron Mills mall Feb. 23. His arrest came as a result of an investigation that involved uttering threats and a firearms complaint, according to Airdrie RCMP Media Liaison Constable Francine Hennelly.
Demers asked the court to have some of the charges moved to Calgary Criminal Court, a request the judge granted.
VanMackelberg has been charged with uttering threats, unlawfully pointing a firearm, intimidation of a witness and unsafe storage of a firearm.
He will next appear in Calgary Criminal Court on Aug. 19 and in Airdrie Provincial Court Nov. 25 to answer to the charges.
