Robert Rhodenizer, 35, of Calgary has been charged with impaired driving with a blood alcohol reading more than .08 and impaired driving causing bodily harm, after RCMP said he turned into the path of a car travelling southbound on Highway 22 on Sept. 12, according to Cochrane RCMP Media Spokesman Sergeant Jeff Campbell.
“Around 11 p.m., we responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 22 just north of Highway 1 (near the turn-off to the Jumping Pond PetroCanada). A northbound pickup truck turned into the path of a southbound car, T-boning the car,” Campbell said. “The male (driver of the car) was trapped inside and had to be extricated by (the fire department).”
The 55-year-old driver of the car from Calgary was transported to the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary by EMS in serious, life-threatening condition, according to Campbell.
“He’s still in Foothills Hospital in serious but stable condition,” Campbell said on Sept. 17.
His name is not being released by RCMP.
Rhodenizer was assessed on scene by paramedics but declined transport to hospital, according to EMS Spokesman Adam Loria.
“Indications at the scene were that the driver of the pickup truck was impaired,” Campbell said. “He was subsequently arrested for impaired driving and has been charged.”
Highway 22 was closed in both directions for five to six hours to allow officers to conduct an investigation into the cause of the collision, Campbell said.
A bail hearing for Rhodenizer was held and he was released, according to Campbell. Under Alberta’s Impaired Driving legislation, he was issued an immediate suspension of his driver’s license and will have to make a mandatory court appearance to answer to the charges.
According to Campbell, Rhodenizer will appear in Cochrane Provincial Court on Oct. 16.
