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Penhold woman charged in longboarder fatal

A woman believed to be linked to a fatal hit and run crash with a teen longboarder west of Penhold faces several charges, after she turned herself in to police who found her car burned in a field.
WEB-Tristan-n
Penhold's Trystan Sorensen

A woman believed to be linked to a fatal hit and run crash with a teen longboarder west of Penhold faces several charges, after she turned herself in to police who found her car burned in a field.

The woman reported to Innisfail RCMP on Saturday, a few days after the crash that killed Trystan Sorensen, 18, of Penhold.

Jessica Masyk, 25, of Penhold has been charged with failing to remain at the scene of a collision, public mischief and driving while unauthorized.

The mischief charge involves her allegedly making a false statement accusing some other person of committing an offence.

Sorensen was killed when he was hit by a vehicle on May 20 at about 10:30 p.m. while he was longboarding with a friend about five km west of Penhold on Hwy 592. The collision occurred just west of where Sorensen lived.

On Wednesday, a 2003 Dodge Durango was reported stolen. It was soon located, burned in a farmer’s field east of Innisfail.

On Saturday, the registered owner and alleged driver at the time of the collision was contacted by police. The same day, she turned herself into the Innisfail detachment.

Amy Sorensen, Trystan Sorensen’s mother, said RCMP informed the family.

Amy said she has mixed emotions about the news.

“We’re angry that she took so long,” said Amy.

Amy said there has been a huge outpouring of support for the family from her son’s friends.

Trystan Sorensen’s brother Harry Midgely also expressed sympathy and compassion for the situation.

“I’m not mad at her, there are certain details I understand that make her own life complicated,” said Midgely.

“It doesn’t make it right, and she did eventually come forward. It’s not going to do any good to be angry, it’s not going to change anything, it’s not going to make anything better.”

Innisfail RCMP are still vigorously investigating the details of the collision and are seeking public assistance. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 403-227-3342 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

The friend Trystan Sorensen was with was not injured.

A public viewing was scheduled for Monday night at Parkland Funeral Home.

Masyk has been released from custody and will appear in Red Deer provincial court on June 20.