Woman killed after snowmobile accident in Sylvan

A 41-year-old woman from Red Deer was killed after the snowmobile she was driving collided with a parked truck in Sylvan Lake on Saturday.

The woman’s seven year-old daughter who was riding on the same snowmobile at the time of the crash survived.

On Jan. 22 at 2:50 p.m. Sylvan Lake RCMP along with Lakeside EMS and Sylvan Lake Fire Department responded to a snowmobile collision on Sylvan Lake in the area designated as the Sylvan Lake Provincial Park.

The woman was pronounced dead on the scene while her daughter sustained undetermined injuries and was transported to the Red Deer Hospital for treatment.

She has since been released from hospital.

Both riders were wearing helmets at the time of the collision. However, it is believed that due to the sizeable impact during the collision, the woman’s helmet did not stay properly fastened and came off contributing to the severity of her injuries. Initial investigation determined the snowmobile struck a parked truck and trailer in the off highway vehicle staging area at a high speed.

The posted speed limit in that particular area is 10 km/h. An investigation as to the cause is underway but police believe alcohol is not a factor.

Sylvan Lake RCMP are looking to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it. Please contact police at 403-887-3334.

Names of those involved are not being released at this time at the request of the next of kin.

Red Deer city RCMP investigate missing youth

Red Deer city RCMP are asking for public assistance in locating a missing youth.

Shetema Matchatis, 13, left her residence in north Red Deer on Jan. 21 at about 3:18 p.m. and has not returned or been heard from since.

She was last seen walking with two unknown males at the Bower Mall.

Matchatis is described as a native female, 5’2” tall and 96 lbs. She has brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a brown coat with a fur lining hood, a white hoodie, light coloured jeans and knee high black boots.

If anyone has information about her whereabouts please call Red Deer city RCMP at 403-343-5575.

– Fawcett