Barkley
03-12-2002, 05:56 PM
Mountie killed in Banff crash
By PETER SMITH, CALGARY SUN
BANFF -- The tragic death of a female Mountie in an icy highway crash has devastated the RCMP detachment here, where her husband is a serving officer.
Const. Christine Diotte was killed as she stood with her partner on an ice-covered stretch of the Trans-Canada Hwy. early yesterday, investigating a rollover crash which happened a few minutes earlier.
Police believe a third vehicle lost control on the same stretch of ice which caused the original rollover and slid into Diotte and her partner where they stood.
Diotte, 35, was pronounced dead at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, while her partner was transferred to Foothills Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Diotte's husband, Const. Mario Diotte, was being comforted by family and colleagues at his Canmore home last night.
"Christine was a swell person, she loved her job and she loved her husband," said Mario's brother, Michel, at the home.
The chain of events leading to the tragedy began at 8:30 a.m., when a vehicle lost control on the Trans-Canada Hwy., 8 km west of Banff near the exit to the Sunshine ski resort.
"When the two officers arrived the roadway was covered in wet ice and was extremely slippery," said RCMP Cpl. Jamie Johnston. "One vehicle was rolled over off the road in the ditch."
No one from the rolled vehicle was badly hurt, and the occupants had made the call which brought Diotte and her partner to the scene.
The officers parked their cruiser on the right-side shoulder with its flashing lights on and got out.
"Both officers were out and conducting a preliminary investigation of the rollover when a second vehicle came around the curve," said Johnston.
"It entered the icy area, lost control, and simultaneously struck the rear of the police vehicle and both police officers, who were standing as pedestrians."
Paramedics and firefighters tended both officers, along with one injured person from the vehicle which struck the cruiser.
At the scene, other Banff detachment colleagues of Diotte's had to carry on investigating the collision knowing she had been killed.
"It was extremely difficult to deal with a service incident involving a member's death," said Johnston.
Johnston said the effect of the tragedy hit harder because the detachment is small and compact.
"These people work together day and night, and when this kind of terrible tragedy occurs you have to come together to work your way through it."
Crisis counsellors were called to the detachment where the Canadian flag was at half-staff, to assist officers in dealing with their grief.
Collision reconstruction experts and southern Alberta RCMP highway patrol officers were called to the scene while traffic on the Trans-Canada was diverted for six hours onto the Bow Valley Parkway to avoid the fatal scene.
It's thought there may be a full regimental funeral for Diotte, but Johnston said that decision would be made in conjunction with the family in the next few days.
FALLEN OFFICERS
A LIST OF OTHER Canadian police officers killed on and off duty in the last few months:
* Dec.21, 2001 -- Manitoba RCMP Const. Dennis Strongquill, 52, shot dead outside RCMP detachment at Russell, Manitoba during a routine traffic check.
* Oct. 17, 2001 -- Calgary police Const. Darren Beatty, 29, shot dead by fellow officer in a Tac Team training mishap.
* Dec. 4, 2000 -- Calgary police Const. Henry Mah, 28, killed in motor vehicle collision while driving to work from his Carstairs home.
* Sept. 29, 2000 -- Calgary police Const. John Petropoulos, 32, fell through a ceiling while investigating a break-in at a warehouse.
[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: Barkley ]
By PETER SMITH, CALGARY SUN
BANFF -- The tragic death of a female Mountie in an icy highway crash has devastated the RCMP detachment here, where her husband is a serving officer.
Const. Christine Diotte was killed as she stood with her partner on an ice-covered stretch of the Trans-Canada Hwy. early yesterday, investigating a rollover crash which happened a few minutes earlier.
Police believe a third vehicle lost control on the same stretch of ice which caused the original rollover and slid into Diotte and her partner where they stood.
Diotte, 35, was pronounced dead at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, while her partner was transferred to Foothills Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Diotte's husband, Const. Mario Diotte, was being comforted by family and colleagues at his Canmore home last night.
"Christine was a swell person, she loved her job and she loved her husband," said Mario's brother, Michel, at the home.
The chain of events leading to the tragedy began at 8:30 a.m., when a vehicle lost control on the Trans-Canada Hwy., 8 km west of Banff near the exit to the Sunshine ski resort.
"When the two officers arrived the roadway was covered in wet ice and was extremely slippery," said RCMP Cpl. Jamie Johnston. "One vehicle was rolled over off the road in the ditch."
No one from the rolled vehicle was badly hurt, and the occupants had made the call which brought Diotte and her partner to the scene.
The officers parked their cruiser on the right-side shoulder with its flashing lights on and got out.
"Both officers were out and conducting a preliminary investigation of the rollover when a second vehicle came around the curve," said Johnston.
"It entered the icy area, lost control, and simultaneously struck the rear of the police vehicle and both police officers, who were standing as pedestrians."
Paramedics and firefighters tended both officers, along with one injured person from the vehicle which struck the cruiser.
At the scene, other Banff detachment colleagues of Diotte's had to carry on investigating the collision knowing she had been killed.
"It was extremely difficult to deal with a service incident involving a member's death," said Johnston.
Johnston said the effect of the tragedy hit harder because the detachment is small and compact.
"These people work together day and night, and when this kind of terrible tragedy occurs you have to come together to work your way through it."
Crisis counsellors were called to the detachment where the Canadian flag was at half-staff, to assist officers in dealing with their grief.
Collision reconstruction experts and southern Alberta RCMP highway patrol officers were called to the scene while traffic on the Trans-Canada was diverted for six hours onto the Bow Valley Parkway to avoid the fatal scene.
It's thought there may be a full regimental funeral for Diotte, but Johnston said that decision would be made in conjunction with the family in the next few days.
FALLEN OFFICERS
A LIST OF OTHER Canadian police officers killed on and off duty in the last few months:
* Dec.21, 2001 -- Manitoba RCMP Const. Dennis Strongquill, 52, shot dead outside RCMP detachment at Russell, Manitoba during a routine traffic check.
* Oct. 17, 2001 -- Calgary police Const. Darren Beatty, 29, shot dead by fellow officer in a Tac Team training mishap.
* Dec. 4, 2000 -- Calgary police Const. Henry Mah, 28, killed in motor vehicle collision while driving to work from his Carstairs home.
* Sept. 29, 2000 -- Calgary police Const. John Petropoulos, 32, fell through a ceiling while investigating a break-in at a warehouse.
[ 03-13-2002: Message edited by: Barkley ]