A 38-year-old man is facing a host of criminal charges following a crash Saturday night that sent him and three others to hospital.
The head-on collision happened around 11:20 p.m. on Ray Gibbon Drive near McKenney Avenue.
A 2003 Chrysler 300 was travelling southbound on Ray Gibbon when it veered into the northbound lane and struck a 2005 Acura MDX.
When officers arrived on scene, the driver of the Chrysler 300 was no longer in the vehicle and there was a trail of footsteps in the snow nearby.
Officers called in the RCMP canine unit and the Edmonton police helicopter, Air-1, to help find the driver and located him a short distance away.
Cpl. Laurel Kading said, with the help of the canine unit and helicopter, officers were able to quickly find the man they believe was driving.
“It was soon enough in our officers’ minds that they believe they have the right person.”
The driver of the Acura, a 51-year-old woman and her 54-year-old male passenger, both from St. Albert, were taken to hospital.
Ambulances also transported the alleged driver and a 41-year-old man who was a passenger in the Chrysler 300.
Kading said all of the injuries appeared minor to the officers on scene, but she doesn’t have an update on the status of those involved in the crash
Kading said officers on scene spoke with a number of people, but are still investigating the case and would appreciate more information.
“They had quite a few at the scene that they spoke to, but certainly if anyone did witness the incident and they haven’t spoken to police, we would welcome them coming forward.”
Ronald Ford McRae, 38, is facing 10 different charges including impaired driving causing bodily harm and failure to stop at the scene of an accident, stemming from the Saturday night wreck. He made his first court appearance on Monday through the closed circuit television system from the Edmonton Remand Centre. He is being held there pending a bail hearing.
In addition to the other counts, he is facing charges of dangerous driving and three breaches of bail conditions on charges originating in British Columbia. He also has also been charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle, driving while unauthorized and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.
Kading said with the investigation continuing, it is also possible more charges will be added.
McRae will make his next court appearance on Feb. 8.
