A Cochrane man is facing numerous charges in connection with a crash that killed four people on the QEII Highway near Innisfail on Sunday.
Tyler James Stevens, 29, is charged with 14 Criminal Code charges:
- Impaired Driving Cause Death x 4 - 255(3) CC
- Impaired Driving Cause Bodily Harm x 1 - 255(2) CC
- Failing to Provide a Breath Sample after a collision resulting in death x 4 - 255(3.2) CC
- Criminal Negligence in the Operation of a motor vehicle cause death x 4 - 220(b) CC
- Criminal Negligence in the Operation of a motor vehicle cause bodily harm x 1 - 221 CC
Police responded to the scene on the QEII Highway at the southern edge of the community at about 11:10 p.m. Sunday night.
Witnesses say a north bound SUV was being driven in the south bound lanes and collided head-on with a south bound automobile.
Four people in the southbound vehicle died at the scene; two men, both aged 35, and two women, aged 52 and 39. A fifth person, a 28-year-old female, was transported to hospital in Edmonton suffering from critical injuries.
CTV News has learned that four of the victims were temporary workers from the Philippines who were employed at the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel.
Kelly McCauley, manager at the hotel, said news of the crash has hit staff very hard. "Our team here is shocked, stunned, saddened beyond words, we're providing grief counseling to help people get through."
A bail hearing was held for Stevens in Red Deer Provincial Court on Tuesday and adjourned.
Stevens will be back in court March 6, 2012.
RCMP is not releasing the names of the deceased until next of kin have been notified.
(With file from ctvedmonton.ca)
