A tragic multi-vehicle crash in Calgary on Boxing Day resulted in the death of a nine-year-old girl. Following a police pursuit, a stolen minivan driven by a 30-year-old man failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of Macleod Trail and Southland Drive Southeast, leading to the catastrophic collision. The minivan collided with an SUV and a car, severely injuring the occupants of the car. Despite medical efforts, the young girl succumbed to her injuries, while another child remains in critical condition. The drivers of the impacted vehicles are also hospitalized, with two listed in stable condition.
Alberta’s police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), has determined that the responding officers’ actions did not directly cause the accident, absolving them from further investigation. Acting Insp. Andy Woodward expressed the police force’s condolences and assured continued investigation to understand the circumstances fully.
The suspect, Duane Arlen John Nepoose, faces multiple charges, including robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, and dangerous driving causing death, among others. Beyond the immediate tragedy, the crash initiated a secondary incident after one of the impacted vehicles collided with another SUV, causing further minor injuries. The police continue to investigate factors such as speed and impairment in this devastating event.
