fatal hit-and-run crash arrest
fatal U-Haul truck hit-and-run crash.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Suspect Arrested in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash in Southeast Edmonton

Authorities have apprehended a suspect wanted in connection with a tragic hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a 45-year-old woman in southeast Edmonton over the weekend. The suspect was taken into custody by RCMP on Tuesday evening in the vicinity of Wainwright, Alberta, approximately 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

The fatal crash occurred late Saturday when a Fort Saskatchewan woman, identified as Kassandra Gartner, was inspecting the exterior of her vehicle after driving over a police spike belt on 50th Street and 22nd Avenue S.W. At around 9:40 p.m., a male suspect driving a U-Haul truck struck her, resulting in her tragic demise.

In addition to Gartner’s unfortunate passing, another individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by the suspect’s vehicle following the spike belt deployment, as confirmed by RCMP Alberta spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff.

Events Leading to the Tragic Incident

The chain of events began when Beaumont RCMP endeavoured to arrest an individual suspected of theft at approximately 9 p.m. The suspect’s vehicle attempted to evade capture by fleeing at high speed, eventually heading north on 50th Street into Edmonton from Beaumont.

Subsequently, the U-Haul truck collided with and fatally struck Kassandra Gartner, a devoted mother of three daughters and the executive director of the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank. The spike belt had been deployed on the roadway following the U-Haul’s collision with an RCMP cruiser.

Suspect’s Actions Post-Collision

After the fatal hit-and-run, the U-Haul truck did not come to a stop but crashed shortly after near a convenience store close to the intersection at 50th Street and 22nd Avenue S.W. The suspect then proceeded to steal a dark grey Honda Civic parked outside a gas station, with a child still inside the vehicle, as reported by EPS.

Although the child was fortunately found unharmed in the vicinity of 66th Street and 25th Avenue shortly after the incident, the suspect had already fled in the stolen Honda. The Honda was later discovered abandoned in a rural area outside Wainwright on Sunday evening, as per RCMP updates on Monday morning.

Investigation and Oversight

Following the tragic events, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been notified by RCMP and will undertake an investigation into the incident. The agency specialises in probing cases where individuals sustain serious injuries or fatalities during encounters with law enforcement, or when allegations of police misconduct are raised.

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Suspect fatal U-Haul truck hit-and-run crash arrested
Fatal U-Haul truck hit-and-run crash arrested.