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News Release - Alberta

Charges sworn as a result of Friday’s fatal collision

Slave Lake 2006 JAN 23

Background
January 20, 2006 at about 5:30 pm Slave Lake RCMP responding to a complaint of a stolen vehicle attempted to stop the stolen Chevy extended cab Chevy pick-up approximately 8 kilometers west of Slave Lake on Highway # 2. The vehicle appeared as if it was going to pull over and stop when it picked up speed and fled. RCMP activated their emergency equipment and contacted dispatch to advise the vehicle was fleeing. Within moments of pulling away from the near stop location the pick-up began to fish tail, it crossed the center of Highway # 2 colliding head on with a south bound Pontiac Sunfire.

The adult female driver of the Sunfire was killed on impact along with a teenage female passenger and female youth all believed to be from the same family. A second female youth and fourth occupant of the car sustained life threatening injuries and has been transported by Stars Air Ambulance to Edmonton for medical treatment. The male driver and lone occupant of the stolen pick-up also sustained life threatening injuries and has been transported by Stars to Edmonton for medical treatment. Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in this crash.

Investigators were advised today, January 22, 2006 that the injured female passenger, fourth occupant of the Pontiac Sunfire, a child, passed away last evening. None of the four occupants of the Sunfire survived the head-on collision. The driver of the stolen pick-up remains in hospital recovering from life threatening injuries. Slave Lake RCMP with the assistance from RCMP Criminal Crash Investigation Team, RCMP Collision Reconstruction Analysts, RCMP Major Crimes Unit and the Edmonton Police Service continue to investigate. Charges are pending.

Up Date
Raymond Charles Yellowknee, age 32 of Wabasca has been charged and remanded in custody as a result of Friday’s collision:
Four counts of Dangerous driving causing death, Section 294(4) Criminal Code;
Four counts of Flight from police causing death, Section 294.1(3) Criminal code;
Possession of stolen property over $5000, Section 355(a) Criminal Code;
Drive while suspended, Section 94 Traffic Safety Act.

Yellowknee has been remanded in custody to appear in Slave Lake Provincial Court on February 15, 2006. He continues to recover in an Edmonton hospital. At this point his injuries are listed as serious. Slave Lake RCMP continues to lead the investigation with additional charges pending.

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Media contact

Wayne A. Oakes, Cpl.
Media Relations Officer
RCMP “K” Division
Media & Communications Services

780 - 412 - 5260