Close X
Monday, November 18, 2024
ADVT 
National

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall Mourns Family Of Four Killed In Crash; Talks Tougher Impaired Driving

IANS, 06 Jan, 2016 11:51 AM
    REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says the loss of an entire family in a crash near Saskatoon is "an unspeakable tragedy."
     
    Jordan Van de Vorst, his wife, Chanda, their five-year-old daughter, Kamryn, and two-year-old son, Miguire, died after their car was struck by an SUV early Sunday.
     
    "I think as soon as Saskatchewan people hear about or read the news, they're automatically considering their own circumstance and their own family. I did. We all do that," Wall said Tuesday in Regina.
     
    "We just can't stress enough the importance of safety and the importance of enforcement with respect to things like driving under impairment."
     
    A 49-year-old woman, who is charged with impaired driving causing death, has appeared in court and is to do so again on Thursday.
     
    Improvements, such as making the shoulder wider and lighting, have been made at the intersection where the crash happened. A spokesman for the Ministry of Highways has said a 2014 independent safety study showed it is no more dangerous than others in the province.
     
     
    Wall says the Highways Ministry is reviewing the crash and what more may need to be done to improve safety at the site.
     
    "We don't want to speculate as there's sort of proceedings going on, but pretty clearly you can have quote-unquote safest intersection in the province be the site of death and loss if someone's driving drunk," he said.
     
    Saskatchewan has the highest impaired driving rates per capita of all provinces.
     
    According to Statistics Canada, there were 683 police-reported impaired driving incidents per 100,000 population in Saskatchewan in 2011. The Canadian average was 262.
     
    Saskatchewan implemented tougher penalties for impaired driving in 2014, including longer licence suspensions, immediate roadside vehicle seizures ranging from three to 60 days, and mandatory ignition interlock in certain cases.
     
    Wall says Saskatchewan's impaired driving rate is "very frustrating."
     
    "We're going to have to ask for some reports from those elements of our government for options to crack down a little bit more. Not trying something or not looking at all of the options, is just not an option when faced with a potential tragedy and loss like we saw just few days ago," he said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Early Morning Violence Near Downtown Vancouver Leaves One Man Dead

    Early Morning Violence Near Downtown Vancouver Leaves One Man Dead
    Const. Brian Montague confirms an unidentified man was found unconscious and covered in blood not far from the city's bus station.

    Early Morning Violence Near Downtown Vancouver Leaves One Man Dead

    Teenager Killed, Young Man Severely Injured In South Vancouver Collision

    Teenager Killed, Young Man Severely Injured In South Vancouver Collision
    The 54-year-old driver lost control after hitting the pedestrians and her vehicle slammed into a power pole and a bus stop before coming to a stop.

    Teenager Killed, Young Man Severely Injured In South Vancouver Collision

    Dawson Creek RCMP Work To Connect Two Violent Attacks In Northern B.C.

    Dawson Creek RCMP Work To Connect Two Violent Attacks In Northern B.C.
    RCMP say no one was hurt Wednesday when three shotgun rounds were fired into a home, which has been seized while police conduct an investigation.

    Dawson Creek RCMP Work To Connect Two Violent Attacks In Northern B.C.

    Charges Expected Against Man Who Leaped Into Icy Water From B.C. Ferry

    Charges Expected Against Man Who Leaped Into Icy Water From B.C. Ferry
    A man is in police custody and is being assessed at a Victoria hospital after a bizarre series of events that began when he jumped off a B.C. ferry.

    Charges Expected Against Man Who Leaped Into Icy Water From B.C. Ferry

    B.C. Failing At Closing Aboriginal Education Gap: Auditor General Report

    B.C. Failing At Closing Aboriginal Education Gap: Auditor General Report
    VANCOUVER — British Columbia's auditor general says the province has failed to close the education gap for aboriginal students in public schools.

    B.C. Failing At Closing Aboriginal Education Gap: Auditor General Report

    5 Things To Know About The Controversy Over The Mandatory Long-Form Census

    5 Things To Know About The Controversy Over The Mandatory Long-Form Census
    Five things worth knowing about the tug of war over the mandatory long-form portion of Canada's census, which was cancelled in 2010 by the Conservatives and reinstated Thursday by the new Liberal government:

    5 Things To Know About The Controversy Over The Mandatory Long-Form Census