Killer roads claim 6 Natives

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Two head-on collisions, which claimed six Alberta Native lives in a recent five-day period, have heightened controversy about the quality of both roads.

An April 25 crash on Highway 2A north of Ponoka took the lives of Charlie Orr, 57, of Hobbema, Gary Gunn and his mother Julie, 53, of Rocky Mountain House. All were travelling in a van.

Four other Wetaskiwin residents were killed in the same accident. Their Suburban truck was struck by the on-coming van which strayed across the centre line of the highway, according to police.

The Wetaskiwin vehicle was occupied by Ernie LeClerc, 56, his wife Norma, 46 and their daughters Adrienne, 9, and Amy, 4.

LeClerc, the director and founder of Hobbema's Muskwatchees Ambulance Authority, was well-known in the Hobbema area for his community service.

Five days later, between Fort McMurray and Janvier, 120 km southeast of McMurray, seven more people were involved in another head-on collision. Three Native residents of Janvier were killed.

The collision, 25 km southeast of Fort McMurray, involved two cars on a recently completed gravel road from McMurray to Janvier. Until the road was built, Janvier was accessible only by air.

The three victims were among four occupants of one vehicle. All are related to Janvier Chief Walter Janvier. Dead are the Chief's cousin Simon, 46, his brother Alvin, 23 and his uncle Arthur, 63.

RCMP officials at Fort McMurray have not yet released the causes and circumstances of the accident. RCMP officials at Ponoka say the occupants of the van had been drinking.

Both roads have been the subject of much controversy. Traffic on Highway 2A at Ponoka increased dramatically in recent years and officials of nearby towns have been pressing government for an extra traffic lane in the area.

The McMurray-Janvier road, since its completion last fall, has been the site of many accidents. The social impact of the new land connection between the two communities has also raised concerns, many focussing on easier access to alcohol and drugs for Janvier residents.

(Next week, Windspeaker will present an in-depth article on the road and what people are saying about its impact on the community of Janvier.)