Photos courtesy Stony Plain RCMP
STONY PLAIN, Alta. — A full-size white van slammed into a daycare in Parkland County on Thursday morning with 18 children and two adults inside, sending a female employee and the male driver to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The collision occurred near the intersection of 48 Street and 50 Avenue, causing an immediate emergency response from Parkland RCMP, the Stony Plain Fire Department, and ATCO.
A female daycare employee in her 20s was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The driver of the van, a man in his 30s, was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. None of the 18 children present at the time of the crash were reported injured.
While the scene has since been deemed safe and the area has reopened, RCMP say their investigation into what led up to the collision is ongoing.
“Our initial focus is on public safety. Now that the scene is stable, we will continue our investigation into the collision, including the actions of the driver leading up to the incident.” said Insp. Kevin McGillivray, Detachment Commander of the Parkland RCMP.
McGillivray commended daycare staff for their quick actions following the crash.
“We want to take this moment to thank the employees of the daycare for working so quickly to ensure the safety of the children in their care. The actions of these workers, as well as quick response from our partners at the Stony Plain Fire Department, were instrumental to ensuring the safety of all involved.”
Parkland RCMP are asking anyone with dashcam or video footage of the area around 48 Street and 50 Avenue between 10:30 and 11 a.m. to contact the Parkland RCMP non-emergency line at 825-220-7267.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online at www.P3Tips.com, or through the P3 Tips app. For RCMP non-emergency inquiries within any Alberta RCMP jurisdiction, residents can call 310-RCMP (7267).
