On July 2, the Airdrie RCMP responded to five reports of arson around the city between 12:21 p.m. to 10:07 a.m.
Reports indicate the fires were small and quickly controlled. They consisted of garbage and other flammable material found in the immediate area. No one was injured during these events and no buildings suffered any damage. The Airdrie Fire Department was called to assist RCMP at all locations.
“Airdrie RCMP would like to remind people that even small fires require time, resources, and manpower from multiple emergency services,” said Const. Rob Frizzell.
“It is against the law to light even small uncontrolled fires in public places and any deliberately set fire is considered serious and will be investigated by the RCMP.”
Collision
Highway 2 southbound was reduced to one lane for about three hours on June 30 at 6:30 p.m. because of a three-vehicle collision.
The collision involves a tandem-trailer semi truck, and two mid-size cars. Police say it appears the driver of one of the sedans did not notice that traffic had slowed and rear-ended the second sedan. This pushed the second sedan into the path of an oncoming semi truck.
“Fortunately, the semi driver had noted the slowing traffic and had reduced his speed significantly prior to the collision,” said Sheriff Jason Graw.
There was one occupant in the semi truck, one in the first car, and four in the car that was pushed into the path of the semi - including two children under three years of age.
Everyone was wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, and there were no injuries.
A 29-year-old Creston, BC, man has been arrested and charged with numerous criminal and provincial driving offences after a traffic stop July 1 on Highway 2, near Airdrie.
After receiving multiple 911 calls from startled motorists, a black Acura sedan was stopped by members of the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit on Highway 2 southbound, just south of Airdrie at 8:50 p.m.
Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle driving erratically and said the vehicle’s licence plate was partially obscured by duct tape.
The driver exhibited signs of severe impairment, and was arrested at the scene. A search of the vehicle also turned up a set of brass knuckles and an open bottle of beer.
“The driver was taken back to the Airdrie RCMP detachment and provided breath samples at nearly three times the legal limit,” said Graw.
The driver, whose name cannot be released until charges are laid, is alleged to have committed the following offences:
• Impaired driving
• Blood alcohol exceeding 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood
• Dangerous driving
• Possession of a prohibited device
• Using a defaced/altered document
• Improper disposal of waste on a highway
• Transporting open liquor
“The Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit would like to remind all motorists that Integrated Traffic Units across Alberta will be out in full force every long weekend,” said Graw.
“We will be focusing our efforts on detecting impaired drivers, and those drivers that choose to speed, fail to use their seatbelts, and make unsafe decisions at intersections.”
Motorists are encouraged to report suspected impaired drivers to 911, he added.
At 1 a.m. on July 2, members of the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit witnessed a silver Dodge Charger travelling at excessive speed, weaving in and out of traffic on Highway 2 near Crossfield.
The Charger was clocked at 185 km/h and was eventually stopped just north of Airdrie.
It became immediately apparent to the officers that both of the vehicle occupants were grossly impaired by alcohol.
The driver was throwing up at the side of the road as he was being arrested, and the passenger was passed out on the front passenger side floorboard, not wearing a seatbelt.
Both the driver and passenger of the car are facing charges as a result of this incident.
The driver, a 26-year-old man from Calgary, is now facing charges of:
• Impaired driving
• Fail/refuse to provide a breath sample
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Operate a vehicle without a subsisting drivers licence
• Possession of a false document
The passenger, a 22-year-old man from Calgary, was bound by a recognizance in relation to unrelated criminal charges out of Calgary. He is now further charged with:
• Failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance - Failing to abstain from alcohol
• Failure to wear a seatbelt
“This incident serves as yet another reminder to motorists that our officers are relentlessly patrolling Alberta highways, in a concerted and pro-active effort to remove dangerous and impaired drivers from the road,” said Graw.
“We are certainly gratified that the individuals involved in this particular case were intercepted by alert traffic officers before a tragedy was able to unfold. Please drink responsibly. Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada, and for this reason, removing impaired drivers from Alberta highways is one of the top six priorities of the Alberta Integrated Traffic Units.”
As part of their efforts to improve safety on Alberta’s highways, sheriff and RCMP integrated traffic units cracked down on 2,767 unsafe drivers over the Canada Day long weekend.
Between June 30 and July 3, officers laid almost 3,000 charges across the province including:
• 39 hazardous driving violations, such as careless driving and stunting;
• 2,193 speeding violations;
• 17 impaired driving charges, 43 other alcohol-related violations and 17 24-hour suspensions for alcohol or drug use;
• 25 failing to stop at a stop sign infractions;
• 113 seatbelt or child restraint infractions;
• 320 violations ranging from having no insurance to driving while suspended.
Alberta collision statistics show that holidays and long weekends can be deadly on the highways. The last time Canada Day was on a Friday was 2005, and during that weekend, eight people were killed on the province’s highways. Over this year’s Canada Day long weekend, two people died on Alberta’s roads. RCMP and Sheriff integrated traffic units and their road safety partners are making Alberta’s highways safer by focusing on the four most dangerous driving activities: impaired driving, not using seatbelts, speeding and proceeding unsafely through intersections.
If you have information on any unsolved crime, call Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
