Prince Albert Police have charged 21-year-old Craig Curtis Kopichanski with seven offences in connection with a fatal collision Wednesday night.
The accident happened after Prince Albert Police were called to a possible impaired driver near 15th Street and 15th Avenue East. Police located the Kopichanski’s vehicle, however, the 21-year-old driver from Weldon, Saskatchewan, refused to stop. The suspect vehicle continued southbound on 6th Avenue east in what police described as a high rate of speed.
His vehicle smashed into a car being driven by 30-year-old Chrystal Rivet, who later died in hospital. Reports say she was four months pregnant with her first child.
According to Sgt. Kelly McLean, the pursuit after Kopichanski wasn’t typical.
“This collision happened so quickly that there was no time to invoke any kind of pursuit calls. There was no opportunity for a shift commander to review and make a decision on whether to continue.” Sgt. McLean said.
“It was literally seconds from the time we initially saw this individual until the collision.”
Kopichanski is charged with impaired driving causing death, failing to stop for police causing death, and reckless driving, among other charges.
