Woman killed, suspect at large after U-Haul crashes into southeast Edmonton gas station
Posted February 25, 2024 4:06 pm.
Last Updated February 25, 2024 10:44 pm.
Police say a woman was killed after being struck by a U-Haul truck on the outskirts of southeast Edmonton Saturday night after it fled a traffic stop in Beaumont – and a suspect remains on the loose.
Beaumont RCMP say the woman was standing outside her vehicle after it was disabled by a “tire-deflation device” intended for the U-Haul, and that’s when she was fatally hit. The victim’s vehicle was one of many civilian vehicles stopped by the police spikes, RCMP add.
The moving truck, which police say was being driven by a man with a woman in the passenger seat, did not stop and continued driving into Edmonton, according to police.
“On behalf of the RCMP, I would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family members of the victim,” Supt. Leanne MacMillian, the RCMP’s assistant central Alberta district officer, said in a news release late Sunday.
“This is a devastating incident that will leave a mark on family and friends for years to come. Please understand that you will be in our thoughts as we progress through this investigation.”
RCMP say the U-Haul then crashed into another vehicle, leaving a man with serious non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses say the moving truck then crashed into a gas station and convenience store near 50 Street and 22 Avenue SW. Police say it happened around 9:40 p.m.
The driver then allegedly ran out and stole a car – with a child inside – that was parked outside the gas station.
“We looked across the street and I see one guy running as fast as he can west, so I’m thinking it was probably one of the guys that was in the U-Haul truck,” eyewitness Jonah Brown told CityNews.
Other witnesses confirm they saw a man take off on foot though the parking lot. They claim he stole the unlocked car, with the child inside, from outside a business in the same plaza.
Authorities say they considered issuing an alert to the public, but the child was found unharmed near 66 Street and 25 Avenue and was “reunited with his family a short time later.” The suspect fled the scene, police say.
Edmonton police and Alberta RCMP are looking for the suspect and the stolen vehicle – a dark grey four-door Honda Civic with an Alberta licence plate: E98-099.
The suspect is being described as five-foot-11. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie with white text on the front, brown shorts and black shoes.
“We are doing everything we can to track down the suspect and we trust the public will help us identify and locate him as soon as possible,” Det. Nigel Phillips with the EPS investigative response team said in a news release.
Brown described to CityNews the chaotic scene after the U-Haul truck crashed into the gas station, saying a “SWAT team” of officers surrounded it and shouted orders. It’s not yet clear if the female passenger remained in the U-Haul.
“There are choppers, there’s everything, and they are screaming at the guy – they are threatening to shoot and stuff. So eventually they got that all under control,” Brown said.
He estimates there were about a dozen police vehicles – some surrounding the convenience store, others blocking the road – and a police helicopter “that just landed in the middle of the road.”
Brown says the Uber he was in was among the vehicles that got a flat tire after driving over police spikes on 50 Street.
“We didn’t know what it was at first, we were trying to figure out what it was, and then, about two cars behind us was the U-Haul truck,” Brown recounted. “And I didn’t actually see the crash myself, my friend did. We all heard screeching behind us and then my friend looked back and he saw the U-Haul truck swerve off the road and hit the 7-Eleven.”
U-Haul truck fled Beaumont after police interaction
Beaumont RCMP say it all began around 9 p.m. when officers located a person they suspected of theft in a parked U-Haul at a business on 50 Street in Beaumont.
Officers attempted an arrest, police allege, at which point the truck “rammed into a police vehicle and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.
“Patrols were initiated to find the truck and, a short time later, it was observed on 50 Street and Highway 814 in Beaumont at a high rate of speed.”
RCMP say the Edmonton police helicopter was notified and provided the vehicle’s location. Surrounding RCMP detachments like Leduc and Strathcona responded to assist.
Edmonton police tell CityNews the RCMP are leading the investigation, but they are “working collaboratively” with them.
Mounties say the director of law enforcement was notified, and Alberta’s police watchdog (ASIRT) will conduct an independent investigation. Alberta RCMP say they will conduct their own internal review as well.
“Events like this are difficult for the communities in which they occur, as well as the general public and RCMP officers involved,” Beaumont RCMP said in a news release. “RCMP officers recognize the trust placed in them to use force that is necessary, proportional and reasonable and in so doing remain fully accountable.”
There was a heavy police presence at the gas station just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday, and the area was taped off. The U-Haul was removed and no longer at the scene by Sunday afternoon.
