Two accidents over the weekend have killed a 38-year-old Red Deer man and a 19-year-old man from Holland.
The 38-year-old Red Deer man died in an accident while helping move large tree logs in Markerville, west of Penhold, Saturday night.
Innisfail RCMP said Dustin Sean Mitchell was helping complete yard work at a residence that backs onto the Medicine River.
Large logs were being moved, using a winch attached to a small SUV. The vehicle rolled into the river and fell on top of Mitchell, submerging him under water for several minutes. Innisfail RCMP, Innisfail Ambulance and Spruceview Fire Department personnel were called at around 7:30 p.m. Police said significant community and EMS involvement managed to free Mitchell and resuscitation attempts were initially successful.
A STARS Air Ambulance crew was called. The helicopter landed in a nearby baseball field and transported Mitchell to the Calgary Foothills Hospital.
However, police said his medical condition deteriorated quickly and while under emergency medical care he passed away at the hospital.
Innisfail RCMP, with the assistance of the Calgary Medical Examiners Office, will continue to investigate. But police said the death is viewed as accidental at this time.
A 19-year-old male from Holland died in a collision at the corner of MacKenzie Road and Range Road 274, south of Red Deer, Saturday night.
Red Deer Rural RCMP responded to the motor vehicle collision at 10:35 p.m.
Police said it appears the southbound green van, where the 19-year-old man was a passenger, proceeded through a stop sign on Range Road 274 onto MacKenzie Road and collided with a car going eastbound on MacKenzie Road.
The 19-year-old died at the scene. The driver of the van was transported to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and later released.
The driver of the car suffered minor injuries, was treated at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and released.
Both of the occupants of the green van are from Holland and are in Canada on a work exchange program.
Red Deer Rural RCMP said alcohol was not a factor of the collision. The incident is still under investigation.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com