A man RCMP described as a “transient prolific offender” wanted for crimes across Alberta and Saskatchewan is facing more charges in connection with a deadly hit-and-run collision involving a U-Haul in south Edmonton over the weekend.
Leanne MacMillan, assistant central Alberta district officer for the RCMP, announced 35-year-old Peter Richard Ashby of no fixed address, was arrested Tuesday in connection with a deadly crime spree that spread from Beaumont to Edmonton, and ended in Wainwright.
Police described him as a prolific offender who was wanted on warrants out of Spruce Grove and Edmonton, as well as in Saskatchewan, for various thefts and vehicle offences.
He is now facing several new charges, including dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, flight from police, failing to stop at an accident, failing to stop causing bodily harm, theft of vehicle and mail, and operating vehicle while prohibited.
“Offenders such as these cause the majority of harm to our communities, repeatedly victimizing the public, utilizing significant resources and tasked with investigating these seemingly never-ending crimes,” MacMillan said.
The deadly situation began Saturday night south of Edmonton in the city of Beaumont, where Mounties were searching for a U-Haul cube van suspected of being involved in stealing packages from porches.
It was spotted with a man behind the wheel and a woman in the passenger seat around 9 p.m.
Police tried to stop the truck but it rammed the RCMP vehicle and sped away, police said. RCMP from Beaumont, Leduc and Strathcona County joined the pursuit and the Edmonton Police Service also responded.
As the U-Haul truck was driving north on Highway 814/50th Street into Edmonton, a tire-deflation device was deployed by RCMP, but before the intended target arrived three civilian vehicles ran over the spike belt and were disabled.
One driver, a 45-year-old woman — who has since been identified as mother-of-three Kassandra Gartner — got out of her vehicle to inspect the damage.
That’s when the Fort Saskatchewan woman, who was the executive director of that city’s food bank, was struck and killed by the U-Haul — which continued north on 50th Street into south Edmonton.
The U-Haul then hit another vehicle, leaving a man in serious, non-life-threatening condition, RCMP said.
Edmonton police said the suspect vehicle ended up outside a 7-Eleven convenience store and Esso gas station off 22nd Avenue and 50th Street SW.
Witnesses told Global News the truck lost control and crashed at the gas station on the southern edge of Edmonton, in the Walker neighbourhood.
That is where, according to RCMP, one of the U-Haul occupants stole a Honda Civic that was parked outside the gas station that had a child inside.
Moments later, the child was found unharmed a few blocks west at 66th Street and 25th Avenue. The suspect then fled the scene in the Honda Civic, police said.
The stolen car was later found on Monday in Wainwright, which is about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
RCMP said the woman who was a passenger in the U-Haul was located but could not say more in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team police watchdog agency is investigating the actions of the police officers in connection with the series of events on Saturday.
The RCMP said it will also be conducting its own internal review.
A candlelight vigil for Gartner is being planned for Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at Fort Saskatchewan city hall. Donations can be made in her name to the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank building fund.
— More to come…
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