Skip to content

Man charged with manslaughter, drunk driving

In a rare move, RCMP have charged a central Alberta man with manslaughter as well as impaired driving offences in the deaths of three men.

LEDUC — In a rare move, RCMP have charged a central Alberta man with manslaughter as well as impaired driving offences in the deaths of three men.

Police say alcohol and speed were factors on Nov. 26 when a Dodge Ram pickup and a car collided on a highway south of Edmonton.

Both vehicles were travelling east on Highway 625 south of Beaumont at around 2:45 a.m. when they drove into a ditch.

“Manslaughter is culpable homicide. It basically means causing the death of a human being by an unlawful act,” Const. Jodi Heidinger said Monday.

“It is definitely not something that is done regularly, but the results of the forensic analysis in this case puts the matter, we believe, well beyond what would be considered criminal negligence.”

The crash killed Bradley Arsenault and Kole Novak, both 18, along with Thaddeus Lake, 22. They were in the car, which rolled after impact.

Johnathan Pratt, 28, of Beaumont, is charged with three counts each of manslaughter, driving over the legal limit causing death, and impaired driving causing death.

Pratt, who was seriously injured in the crash, is being held in custody until his first court appearance Thursday in Leduc court.

Novak’s father, Zane Novak, said the three young men who died were best friends.

“They were such quality kids,” he said.

“They were the type of kids who had a designated driver when they went out. They were the type of kids who embraced every moment of life. And it was their goal to make everybody and anybody whose path they crossed smile and laugh and enjoy life. I just hope that isn’t forgotten and lost.”