Police charge City of Lethbridge driver in crash that killed 72-year-old man

Lethbridge police have laid charges in connection to a crash on Whoop Up Drive last year that killed a 72-year-old man.

The collision happened in the westbound lanes near the University Drive exit on Nov. 13, 2015 just after 3:30 p.m.

A police investigation determined a Pontiac Montana collided with the back of a City of Lethbridge case loader that was in the process of removing snow from the roadway.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 72-year-old man, suffered life-threatening injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle. He was transported to the Chinook Regional Hospital where he later died.

The driver of the case loader, a 31-year-old man, was uninjured.

READ MORE: Lethbridge man dies after collision with front-end loader

On Friday, police announced Scott Edward Erickson, of Lethbridge, had been charged with one count of dangerous driving causing death.

Alcohol and speed were ruled out as factors in the collision, but police said their investigation determined that sun glare, the driving pattern of the loader and a lack of the use of safety equipment – including warning signage and a pilot/block vehicle – contributed to the crash.

The City of Lethbridge released a statement on Friday calling the crash a tragedy.

“Since this event, the City of Lethbridge employee involved has been reassigned to another city department with other duties until this matter is resolved. Our employee has now been charged, but at this time he has not been convicted of any offence.”

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Erickson was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 3.