Highway 2 northbound lanes were closed Monday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. for two hours yesterday after a minivan, carrying seven people, rolled into the median north of Ponoka.
Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit, along with at least four ambulances and the Ponoka Fire Department were called to the scene where the minivan went out of control. The rollover was so severe that two STARS Air Ambulance helicopters were called to transport a male driver and male passenger with serious injuries to Edmonton.
Five passengers were taken to the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre with mostly minor injuries, although one passenger suffered a broken pelvis.
Full details were not available as the matter is still under investigation and officers say alcohol may have been a factor in the incident.
Train vs car
An elderly driver of a minivan is believed to have suffered non-life threatening injuries after his car collided with a train Saturday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.
Adrian Verberg, 89, was crossing the tracks from a private entrance south of Ponoka on Highway 2A when the train collided with the rear end of his van. Verberg’s car then flipped around and landed on its side, trapping him in the vehicle.
Members of the Ponoka Fire Department had to work to extricate him from the vehicle and had to cut the roof of the van with the Jaws of Life to gain safe access to the driver. He was taken to Red Deer Hospital for further tests.
Erratic driver charged
Officers have charged a male driver from Maskwacis with impaired driving after his van rolled over on Monday, Sept. 22 at 12:30 p.m.
Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit received calls of an erratic driver on Highway 2A south of Ponoka shortly before the rollover. The final call they received of the same vehicle was that it had rolled near the Highway 2 overpass south of Ponoka.
The male driver and female passenger were taken to the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre where they were treated for minor injuries.
Impaired driver endangers infant
On Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., Ponoka RCMP received a 911 complaint of a motor vehicle weaving through traffic on Highway 2, north of Highway 53.
The 32-year-old female driver of the 2005 Chrysler Sebring had an infant passenger and was charged with impaired driving over the legal limit.
Identity fraud, evading police
RCMP stopped a 2012 Dodge Ram, Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 1:30 a.m., travelling 150 km per hour in a 110 zone.
During the arrest of the 23-year-old driver from Lloydminster, SK, RCMP discovered the license the man had produced was in fact his brother’s and that the driver had several outstanding warrants.
While that arrest took place, the 24-year-old passenger sped away in the truck, which was not located.
The initial driver has been charged with identity fraud, speeding, possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, driving disqualified and failure to comply with conditions of release.
The missing passenger has a warrant out for his arrest and is being charged with operation of a motor vehicle being perused, driving disqualified and obstruction.
Attempted break and enter
A resident of Range Road 275 was forced to call RCMP on Monday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. after seeing a male and female attempt to break into his neighbor’s house.
As the complainant stopped them, they broke into the complainant’s vehicle and stole a checkbook (later recovered) and a wallet.
The thieves left in a stolen Ford 150, believed to be taken from Red Deer. The female is in her late 20s and the male is in his 30s, both are Caucasian.
The investigation is ongoing.
Driver carts marijuana
On Thursday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m., a motor vehicle was stopped on Highway 2A because the license plate was not registered and the registered owner of the vehicle had warrants attached to his name.
RCMP officer could smell alcohol and marijuana and a search of the vehicle produced 16 grams of the controlled substance.
The 39-year-old Ponoka man was arrested for outstanding warrants and possession of a controlled substance.
Thief targets Ponoka south business
RCMP responded to a 911 call, Thursday, Sept. 18 at 8:15 p.m., after a 25-year-old Lloydminster male stole cigarettes from a 39th Avenue business.
The suspect was located and arrested for theft.
Uninsured driver
A 18-year-old Claresholm man was caught Friday, Sept. 19 at 6:55 p.m. for speeding 148 km per hour in a 110 zone.
The man produced expired insurance, the vehicle was towed and he was charged with driving without insurance.
Suspended driver
On Friday, Sept. 19, 9:30 p.m., RCMP stopped a 2001 GMC Jimmy when the license plate did not match the vehicle.
The 27-year-old male Maskwacis driver had a suspended license and had no insurance or registration, for which he was charged.