EDMONTON – The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has concluded its investigation into a deadly crash involving an on-duty Edmonton police officer.
The collision happened back on March 8, 2012. A plainclothes officer was working with a team of investigators that morning, doing surveillance work in a criminal case. While monitoring a suspect, the officer was travelling north on 75 Street in an unmarked police vehicle. As he approached the 76 Avenue intersection, an 84-year-old woman driving south on 75 Street tried to make a left-hand turn onto 76 Avenue and ended up turning into the path of the officer’s vehicle.
The driver, Anne Walden, died as a result of her injuries from the crash. The officer was wounded in the collision; his injuries were serious but non-life threatening.
After an extensive investigation the findings of which were provided to crown counsel for review, ASIRT Executive Director Clifton Purvis made the decision to have ASIRT investigators charge EPS Cst. Chris Luimes with one count of dangerous driving causing death.
This is only the second time since ASIRT’s inception that criminal charges have been laid in relation to a driving offence.
Purvis says this is just one step in a long process.
“There may be a fatality inquiry in which we will provide information to the inquiry counsel and inquiry judge,” he says. “There may be other processes that result of this collision, whether they be civil or conduct-related by the Edmonton Police Service.”
Because the matter is before the courts, Purvis was not able to provide more information about what was uncovered during the investigation that led to this decision.
Cst. Luimes will make his first court appearance on October 10, 2013.
The maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing death is 14 years.
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