Three killed in collision near Foam Lake

Three people died Friday when a truck and an SUV collided on a grid road about nine kilometres west of Foam Lake, according to Saskatchewan RCMP.

Wadena/Foam Lake RCMP got the call about 12:35 p.m. on October 2. Fire crews, EMS and STARS responded. Police say the truck was trying to pass a semi when it collided with the SUV.

EMS declared three SUV occupants dead at the scene: the driver and two passengers. The dead were identified as a woman, 40, and two girls, ages 8 and 5, all of Foam Lake. A third SUV passenger, a man, was taken by STARS to hospital with injuries described as serious.

The truck’s driver went to hospital with injuries the release described as non-life-threatening. Two passengers were aboard. One went by EMS with injuries the release described as non-life-threatening. The other went by STARS with injuries described as serious.

The semi was not damaged and its driver reported no physical injuries to police.

Police arrested Kelly Knopf, 40, of Sumter, South Carolina. He faces three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, under section 320.13(3) of the Criminal Code. He also faces three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, under section 320.13(2). The release does not say which vehicle he was in.

These are allegations. Nothing has been proven in court.

Knopf is due in Yorkton Provincial Court on October 5. RCMP continue to investigate with a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.