Two correctional officers died on the job Thursday in Alberta, in a crash that also claimed the life of the female inmate they were transporting.
The crash happened just before 11:30 a.m. in eastern Alberta at the intersection of Highway 41 and Highway 13, south of Wainwright near Czar.
The Correctional Service of Canada said trio were killed during a transfer from the Edmonton Institution for Women.
RCMP from Provost and Wainwright, as well as the Hughenden Fire Department, responded to the crash between a Hino Box Truck with a lone driver and a Correctional Service Canada minivan occupied by two Correctional Officers and a female inmate.
All three people in the van were killed.
The two officers were 57-year-old Nicolae Serban from Sherwood Park near Edmonton, and 25-year-old Ramandeep Kaur Maan from Winnipeg.
“Our thoughts are with Nick and Ramandeep’s families, friends, and colleagues, who are facing an unimaginable loss,” said a statement Friday afternoon by Talal Dakalbab, Correctional Service of Canada commissioner.
“We honour them not only as Correctional Officers, but as valued members of our CSC family whose lives, service, and contributions have made a lasting impact on those who knew and worked alongside them.”
Kiara Mooswa, a 24-year-old woman from North Battleford, Sask., has been identified as the inmate who died.
Corrections Canada said Mooswa had been serving a sentence of seven years and 20 days since April 11, 2024. Local media reports indicate she was behind bars for manslaughter in the 2023 death of another woman in North Battleford.
“This tragedy has affected many families and communities. We also mourn the loss of Kiara Mooswa, who was in our care and custody at the time of the accident, and extend our condolences to her family, friends, and community,” Dakalbab stated.
The Edmonton Institution for Women is a multi-level medium-to-low security prison with a rated capacity of 167 female inmates.
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RCMP and CSC would not reveal where the the van were headed, saying on Friday that information is not being released yet to protect the integrity of the investigation.
The driver of the box truck was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, RCMP said in a Friday update. Their identity was not released.
The intersection has stop signs controlling the north-south flow on Highway 41 with traffic on Highway 13 having the right of way.
RCMP on Friday said collision investigators are still working to determine which driver may be at fault in the crash.
STARS Air Ambulance was dispatched to the scene but said it ended up not transporting any patients.
Because an inmate died in custody, the Correctional Service of Canada said an internal investigation will take place, but did not elaborate on what that entails.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday his thoughts were with those grieving the terrible loss.
“Every day, correctional officers do difficult work with an enormous responsibility: keeping Canadians and our communities safe. Yesterday, two officers tragically lost their lives,” he said in a statement.
Dakalbab echoed that statement.
“As the Prime Minister has noted, correctional officers perform challenging and often demanding work with tremendous responsibility, helping to protect Canadians and support safe communities.
“Nick and Ramandeep embodied that commitment every day. Their service, sacrifice, and dedication to others will not be forgotten, and we will continue to honour their memory and legacy.”
The RCMP also offered its sympathies.
“We extend our support to our fellow officers at Correctional Service Canada as they mourn their friends and colleagues and send our condolences to the loved ones of all three individuals whose lives were lost yesterday,” said assistant commissioner Wayne Nichols, the acting commanding officer of the Alberta RCMP.
The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers declined an interview but issued a statement on Friday.
“No correctional officer leaves for work expecting not to return home. Today, our union mourns two dedicated professionals who served with courage, commitment, and honour. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” the union said in a statement.
“We ask Canadians to keep these families, their fellow correctional officers, and all those impacted by this tragedy in their thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.”
Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre, who represents the Battle River-Crowfoot riding where the crash occurred, said he was saddened to learn of the correctional officer deaths.
“My thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues as they now face this devastating loss,” Poilievre said on social media.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the correctional officers and staff who put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep Canadians safe. May those we lost rest in peace.”
With files from Rachel Morgan, Global News
Was brother san driving the other truck?
I see. I understand. Aldjsjkandhfsm01647291
Dorian’s COMMENT BELOW MINE !!! I SAY YOUR WRONG !!!
MAY GOD BLESS the two corrections officers. DON’T CARE ABOUT INMATES !!! MATTER OF FACT , these 2 HERO’S are DEAD BECAUSE OF HER
The inmate’s name is just as important as the officers, and she had people who cared about her. She does not deserve to be stuck down two paragraphs under them, her life was not worth less than theirs were.
The inmate was a Lifelong Liberal.
Good to hear inmate eating dirt! Sorry to hear about officers
Eat dirt inmate! Sorry to hear about officers
i feel sorry for the inmate. very sad way to die .hope the family gets a lawyer
So I’ve just read the UPDATED article and if all of you low-IQ commenters below would do the same thing you would read the Who/What/Where and When questions. The why is: a) none of your business, and b) not being released at this time as the investigation is ongoing.
As far as the inmate – she had been incarcerated for killing another, so she waived all her ‘human rights’ at the time of the murder, and to even be acknowledged as a human being. No tears shed here for that waste of oxygen.
Inmate is garbage, good riddance ! Sorry about officers
One life was missing-the inmate-from the correctional service statement. It’s like their life was erased. Undignified and beyond the pale
Boo hoo for the criminal? If the criminal hadn’t done the crime then there would be no need for transport and the 2 officers would still be alive.
Releasing an official statement about the 2 corrections officers and not even mentioning the inmate who also died is PATHETIC.
Honestly. No empathy for the womn who also lost her life, Shameful reporting.
No mention of the prisoner . What a shame .
Who cares about the Gaurds they were working what about the Person being transferred what about them…..
Not a word about the woman incarcerated that wound up dead in their care. Is that the professional ism to which you refer? I think the family has a wrongful death liability lawsuit. When you take a human you are responsible. Unless your ice.
That’s sorry nobody mentions the woman that died. Correction officers are junk to. Smh
The person in jail was also a human being, it seems you’re more concerned about the officers and not the person who was in jail!!
That wasn’t the question I went looking for answers for.
The lack of details is probably to justify the a** kissing of the “officers”
Way to report NO DETAILS WHATSOEVER! Pathetic!
So… All this talk about the poor, poor officers, what about coverage of the inmate? The inmate was a human being too.
What pathetic coverage wow standards are worse everyday.
nothing about the inmate?? Doesn’t she matter? 😔
Not even going to mention the third person huh
Since when do media outlets not tell you WHAT happened. A brief synopsis of what happened would have been nice. You know like actually REPORT something?!?!?!?!?!
Way to cover up for the government
Independent journalist my ass
Raxhel Morgan, I want my 1 minute back. How this article passes release is mind boggling, a whole lot of nothing.
Where is the rest of the story? Who,when,when,where,how,why?
Just reprint the news release. Not even an email or phone call to get more details? How informative.
And the woman who died, do you mourn her death, as well ? Because CSC does not mention her at all.
Sooo glad I canceled global,ctv and The mighty demon cbc years ago…
Seriously! They ran a stop sign!! Unbelievable
Seen the vans on highways many times…speeding each time.
Line of duty?! You mean transfering a person to prison?! Hardly the line of duty.
I remember a long night drive once, up i29 following a dept of corrections van. Because they were doing 165kph for over 450km…
Well that said nothing but a lot of wow these were two great prison guards.Who caused the accident?What about the inmate?Did she get a medal too?
Well this article cleared up nothing. Great journalism global. How long till you lock the comments?
Ummm….maybe some details are in order here. Was this a vehicle transport accident or did they all fall down a flight of stairs? Remember journalism Global? 5 W’s? Who What When Where Why. You are missing two of those.