‘Driver fatigue’ likely caused deadly Agassiz crash: RCMP

Police have released more information about a fatal crash that killed a two-year-old girl and her parents in Agassiz earlier this year.

The Agassiz RCMP says a family of three, including the child, died in the serious crash that closed a portion of Lougheed Highway for several hours.

Mounties say the crash happened around 3:30 a.m., July 9, along the highway between Maria Lane to Lophet Road.

“A vehicle and tractor-trailer collided head-on,” Mounties said, adding that the family was in the car together, with one person in the semi-truck.

“The two adults in the vehicle were pronounced deceased on scene. The third, an infant, was airlifted to hospital, where they passed away a few hours later, despite the heroic efforts of first responders and hospital staff.”

Sgt. Andy Lot tells 1130 NewsRadio Thursday that the SUV driver was a volunteer firefighter and husband to the passenger, a nurse. The family was from the small community of Deroche, roughly 20 minutes from the scene of the crash.

“It is believed that on the day that they were en route back from Merritt, where the wife had just finished off a shift,” said Lot.

He says the investigation looked into dashcam footage from both vehicles and concluded that the husband’s tiredness may have factored in.

“Investigators have determined that the [SUV] entered oncoming traffic for some time before both drivers made last-second efforts to avoid a collision. The investigation is ongoing and the causal factors are not fully known, however, it is believed that fatigue may have played a key role in the collision,” Mounties said in a release Thursday.

Lot says he doesn’t expect the semi truck driver, who was not physically injured, to face any criminal charges.

He urged the public to be safe and well-rested before driving.

“If you are fatigued or feeling tired, please do not drive a motor vehicle. If you feel tired while you are operating a motor vehicle, find a safe place and rest and then continue to drive,” said Lot.

—With files from Michael Williams