A man in his 50s was pronounced deceased at the scene, when Cochrane RCMP responded to a call around 12:15 p.m. Sept. 6 of a motor vehicle collision at the traffic circle of Hwy 22 and Hwy 8.
The Eagle was not able to retrieve the name of the deceased man in time for publication, as RCMP were awaiting next of kin notification.
Stuart Brideaux, a spokesperson with EMS, reported that a second motorcyclist, who was not involved in the collision or injured, was riding tandem with the man who was killed.
The second motorcyclist reported that the motorcyclist who was killed was travelling northbound on Hwy 22 and failed to yield to a semi truck and trailer that was making its way through the Hwy 8 traffic circle.
The motorcyclist was instantly killed.
Hwy 22 northbound was temporarily closed. The driver of the semi truck was not injured.
The Cochrane RCMP detachment issued the following press released Sept. 8:
“When 23-year-old Brody Leimer went to work as a tow truck operator with Big Hill Towing in the early hours of Sept. 8, little did he know that he would be starring front and center in what must have seemed like James Bond movie. Brody was called out to tow a vehicle that had broken down on Highway 1 near the community of Morley. As Brody hooked up the vehicle, had it raised and only partially secured he jumped into the vehicle to put it in neutral. Suddenly, to Brody’s horror his tow truck began driving away with him inside the partially attached car. Brody soon realized that someone had stolen his tow truck!
Brody was left with few choices: jump out of the moving car onto the highway; stay in the partially attached car and await his fate; or do what any super hero might do. Brody chose the latter. Brody exited the vehicle — that was now traveling down the highway — and jumped onto the hood. Tires popping from being dragged, sparks flying, Brody jumped from the vehicle onto his tow truck. He was able to climb to the passenger side of his truck and somehow managed to open the passenger door of the truck and swing inside. Brody then confronted his nemesis — a 20-year-old male. Still traveling down the highway, Brody subdued the male and was able to get his truck stopped and toss the male out.
Police arrived and arrested Aaron Omeasoo-Stephens a short distance away. Omeasoo-Stephens has been charged with impaired driving, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level exceeding .08, two counts of theft over $5,000, and driving without a license. Omeasoo-Stephens has been released for court Oct. 7, 2014.”
Corp. Troy Savinkoff with the local detachment said they do not wish to ‘glamorize’ the situation by using the term ‘super hero’— but that the disbelief over Leimer’s success and the fact that nobody was hurt allowed for some humour in this case.
Savinkoff said that the tow truck was probably travelling 60 km/hr. when Leimer was on the hood and managed to get himself inside his tow truck.
Shortly before the tow truck incident, a Cochrane RCMP officer responded to an alarm call at the Stoney Health Centre in nearby Morley.
The call resulted in two male youth, aged 14 and 15, being charged with break and enter, resisting arrest and theft. Both were released to their parents.
Upon arrival, the officer observed two suspects peeking outside from within the building and called for back up. Once back up arrived, the 15-year-old suspect tried to flee the health centre.
He sought refuge on the rooftop of a car in the adjacent parking lot. After being coaxed down and taken into custody, the 14-year-old was also coaxed out of the building and also arrested by officers.
Substantial damages to the building resulted, including the deployment of fire extinguishers and broken windows. According to Corp. Savinkoff, it appears the two youths were trying to access a secure location where drugs were contained, but failed to do so.
Savinkoff said neither of the youths had prior dealings with Cochrane RCMP.
