Local residents are urging for increased safety measures following the fourth fatal accident in the past year on Highway 627 located southwest of Edmonton. The recent incident involved a 69-year-old motorcyclist who tragically lost his life in a collision with a pickup truck between Range Road 273 and Range Road 274.

According to Parkland RCMP, there have been 38 reported collisions on Highway 627 over the last year, with five deaths resulting from four of these accidents. Robert Oliver, a retired 30-year veteran residing near Highway 627, expressed concerns about the safety of multiple intersections along the highway, citing a lack of advanced green lights and speeding drivers as factors contributing to the high accident rate.

In an effort to enhance safety, Oliver reached out to the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors twice, specifically advocating for advanced green lights at the Highway 627 and Highway 60 intersection. A previous collision on July 16 at the same junction claimed the lives of a 69-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman from Stony Plain.

Kevin McGillivray, the detachment commander at Parkland RCMP, highlighted an increase in fatal collisions on Highway 627 compared to the previous year. Collaborating with Alberta Sheriffs Highway Patrol and Parkland County community peace officers, law enforcement is intensifying enforcement actions along Highway 627 to address the recent surge in severe collisions.

As a provincial highway under the oversight of Alberta Transportation, Highway 627 has garnered attention from the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors. The Ministry expressed sympathy for those affected by the accidents and emphasized cooperation with law enforcement to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incidents. They indicated a commitment to reviewing RCMP findings to identify potential safety enhancements for the highway and its intersections.