On Jan. 6, 2024, at approximately 11:45 p.m., Drumheller RCMP, Emergency Medical Services and local Fire Departments responded to a 2 vehicle head-on collision on Hwy 9 near Range Road 214, west of Drumheller. Preliminary investigation indicated that a pickup truck and a car collided on the highway. The driver of the car, a 39-year-old male resident of Drumheller, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the female passenger of that car, a 33-year-old female resident of Drumheller, was taken to hospital via ground ambulance. The driver of the pickup truck, a 50-year-old male resident of Strathmore, was taken to Drumheller Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
After an extensive investigation, and with assistance from the RCMP Collision Reconstructionist and RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team, on Nov. 19, 2024, Drumheller RCMP arrested 50-year-old Sean Powell, a resident of Strathmore. He has been charged with the following:
Impaired operation of a conveyance;
Operate a conveyance over 80 mg/%;
Impaired operation of a conveyance causing death;
Impaired operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm;
Operate a conveyance over 80 mg/% causing death;
Operate a conveyance over 80 mg/% causing bodily harm;
Dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death;
Dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm;
Refuse to provide a breath sample causing death; and
Refuse to provide a breath sample causing bodily harm.
Powell was also subject to Alberta Immediate Roadside Sanctions which included suspension of drivers licence. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in the Drumheller Alberta Court of Justice on Dec. 20, 2024, to answer to the charges.
