A catastrophic collision on Highway 12 near Bentley, Alberta has left a community in mourning after claiming four lives, including two teenagers, in what investigators are describing as one of the region’s most devastating traffic incidents this year.
The fatal crash occurred Thursday evening when a westbound SUV carrying three occupants collided head-on with an eastbound pickup truck approximately 25 kilometers west of Red Deer. The impact was so severe that emergency responders arriving at the scene faced grim circumstances that RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Clarke later described as “absolutely heartbreaking.”
“When multiple lives are lost in an instant like this, especially when young people are involved, it affects everyone from first responders to the wider community,” Clarke told reporters at a Friday morning press briefing in Red Deer.
Among the deceased were two teenagers aged 15 and 17, whose identities are being withheld pending family notifications. The other victims included a 43-year-old woman from Rimbey and a 52-year-old man from Sylvan Lake. A fifth person, a 19-year-old passenger, was transported to University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton with critical injuries and remains in intensive care.
The Central Alberta region has witnessed a troubling rise in highway fatalities this spring, with provincial transportation officials noting an approximately 15% increase in serious collisions compared to the same period last year.
Weather conditions at the time of the crash were clear, and preliminary investigations suggest neither alcohol nor adverse road conditions were factors. Traffic reconstruction specialists are examining whether speed or driver distraction may have contributed to the tragedy.
Bentley Mayor Greg Nelson expressed the profound impact on the tight-knit community of approximately 1,100 residents. “Everyone knows someone affected by this terrible accident,” Nelson said. “Our community is rallying together, but the grief is overwhelming, particularly knowing young lives with so much potential have been lost.”
The crash temporarily closed Highway 12 in both directions for nearly eight hours as investigators documented the scene and cleared debris scattered across both lanes. The highway reopened early Friday morning, though the investigation remains active.
Alberta Transportation Minister Rick Schauer pledged a comprehensive review of the highway section where the collision occurred, noting it has been identified in previous safety assessments as needing potential improvements.
“While we cannot comment on this specific incident while the investigation is ongoing, I can confirm that our department will be expediting the safety review of this corridor,” Schauer stated in a written release. “Every highway fatality is a tragedy that demands our attention and action.“
This incident brings Alberta’s highway death toll to 72 for the first half of 2024, according to provincial statistics. Traffic safety advocates point to this latest tragedy as further evidence supporting calls for enhanced driver education programs and stricter enforcement of distracted driving laws across the province.
As communities across central Alberta grapple with this devastating loss, the question remains: what more can be done to prevent these heartbreaking highway tragedies that continue to claim lives across our province?
