Suzanne Oel – Division 4
Greetings! Sharing my News Update…
RCMP-confirmed details about 2026 NW Foothills County Accidents: As a follow up to my September HCN article topic “Accidents and EMS” and in response to residents’ requests for information, I am sharing with you these statements from the Diamond Valley RCMP about three accidents.
- On May 25, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 22 & Priddis Greens Drive, police were dispatched to a 2 vehicle collision involving a motorcycle and a motor vehicle. The collision was deemed to have been caused by human error, and resulted in the fatality of the operator of the motorcycle. The driver that was deemed ‘at-fault’ was charged and the matter remains before the courts.
- On July 11, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 22 & Priddis Greens Drive, police were dispatched to a 2 vehicle collision involving a motorcycle and a motor vehicle. The collision was deemed to have been caused by human error, resulting in the fatality of the operatorof the motorcycle. The driver that was deemed ‘at-fault’ was charged and the matter remains before the courts.
- On July 26, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 762 & 258 Ave. W., police were dispatched to a single vehicle collision involving a motorcycle that lost control and hit the ditch. The lone operator of the motorcycle sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries and was air lifted to the hospital. The collision was deemed to have been caused by human error, speed, and driver experience may have been a factor.
Highway 22 & Priddis Greens Drive Intersection: Further to the above inquiries, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) provided a statement, explaining that Highway 22 & Priddis Greens Drive has a fully channelized Type IVb intersection, and has dedicated left turn lanes which is a higher standard than a normal rural intersection. ATEC also noted that sight distances are good in both directions. FYI: you can view the ATEC Highways Geometric Design Guide. Click on “Chapter D: At-grade intersections” to view the Type IVb design and learn more about At-grade intersections: https://open.alberta.ca/ publications/highway-geometric-design- guide-1995
Numerous Accidents in 2026 involving Motorcycles: Over these past summer months, RCMP have experienced an increase in collisions involving motorcycles in and around the Foothills County area, including Foothills County, Diamond Valley, Okotoks, High River, Cochrane, and Kananaskis response areas. The following information is written in collaboration with the Diamond Valley RCMP. Although some of the collisions did not occur within the Diamond Valley RCMP detachment response area, they are included because RCMP members serving Foothills County responded to these collisions, and these numbers show the scale of impact.
There have been 18 reported motorcycle collisions during the spring and summer months in 2026, and 11 of those resulted in fatalities. RCMP would like to remind drivers to be extra cautious and to be prepared to encounter all modes of transportation including less visible motorists, cyclists, vulnerable road users, slow moving vehicles, farming equipment, logging trucks, and wildlife. Motorcycles are much smaller than a vehicle, which often makes them more difficult to see. There’s a greater chance that a motorcycle could stay in one’s blind spot. When following a motorcycle, provide a greater distance, and be mindful that a motorcycle is able to come to a complete stop much more quickly than a car or truck. Check twice at intersections, always check blind spots and avoid sudden lane changes. While road conditions such as loose gravel, potholes or slippery surfaces can be a contributing factor, additional factors to consider are visibility, driver experience, speed, and driver error. Thank you and drive safe!
Emergency Health Services to meet with Foothills County Council: Plans are being finalized for a meeting to take place during a Council session in October 2026. The meeting date will be published in an upcoming Council Agenda. In my next HCN article, I plan to write about the content of our meeting, plus share more about our request to keep the Priddis Ambulance at its home station to serve the residents and visitors here.
For Other News & Updates:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CouncillorSuzanneOel/
Email: Suzanne.Oel@FoothillsCountyAB.ca
Please visit High Country News online for my previous articles.
With Best Regards,
Suzanne
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