Chris Clegg
South Peace News
A Grande Prairie woman faces charges of criminal negligence causing death, and criminal negligence causing bodily harm, stemming from an accident at Driftpile May 1.

High Prairie RCMP announced Jan. 20 they charged Edna Jean Smith, 58, with the crimes. They served her with a summons to appear in High Prairie Provincial Court Jan. 30.

RCMP attended the three-vehicle, fatal collision at about 3 p.m. on May 1 at the Driftpile Bridge. Also responding were Emergency Services and Lakeshore Police Service.

“The collision occurred on the bridge and traffic was diverted while the collision was investigated,” says Const. Charles Dubois in a news release.
“An SUV, traveling westbound on Highway 2, struck a car traveling eastbound. After that initial impact, the SUV then struck a van traveling eastbound. The collision occurred in the eastbound lane.”

The 36-year-old female driver of the van, as well as two passengers, a 12-year-old boy and an 11-month-old girl, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The van caught fire, and a bystander was able to pull out, and save, a four-year-old girl who was a passenger in the van.

The two occupants of the car, both 17, were treated by EMS on scene and released with minor injuries.

Smith, the lone occupant of the grey SUV, was transported via STARS to an Edmonton Hospital.