One dead, Harrison Park reeve in hospital following collision

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This article was published 07/06/2022 (1208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One person is dead and the Municipality of Harrison Park reeve is in hospital after a collision along Highway 10 Monday morning.

The Municipality of Harrison Park made the announcement about Reeve Jason Potter on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.

“Reeve Potter’s family is asking for respect and privacy during this difficult time,” the post reads. It also states Potter “sustained life-threatening injuries.”

“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this terrible accident.”

Chief administrative officer Chad Davies confirmed Potter was involved in the collision.

At approximately 7 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 10, approximately six kilometres south of Erickson, according to the Yellowhead RCMP. Erickson is south of Riding Mountain National Park.

A vehicle driving south and a vehicle driving north collided, police say.

The driver of the northbound vehicle, a 53-year-old Onanole man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. He was the sole passenger in the vehicle.

A 45-year-old Onanole man, Potter, was travelling in the southbound vehicle. He was transported to hospital with serious injuries via STARS air ambulance.

The Sun confirmed the man who died was Dean Sutherland. Dozens of messages on a friend’s Facebook page expressed condolences and sadness for Sutherland.

The Sun contacted Sutherland’s family through friends but didn’t receive a response Tuesday.

Davies didn’t have any updates on Potter’s condition Tuesday afternoon.

“Our thoughts are with everybody who was involved in the accident and we hope for a quick recovery on Jason’s part,” he said.

Deputy reeve Craig Atkinson has temporarily assumed Potter’s responsibilities.

Reached Tuesday afternoon, Atkinson said all the other councillors were concerned for Potter.

“Jason has been a friend of ours for at least half of council for quite a period of time, so it’s more of a friendship level than anything to do with the reeve right now,” he said.

Manitoba RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Julie Courchaine said drugs and alcohol are not considered factors in the collision.

“It’s just another tragedy on the road,” she said.

Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson chief administrative officer Iain Edye said the municipal fire department responded to the collision. The municipality, which is directly south of Harrison Park, does not have any safety concerns with the area of Highway 10 where the collision happened.

A large section of the highway is scheduled to be repaved this summer, which Reeve Victor Baraniuk​ said he believes will help improve road safety. He said his thoughts are with everyone affected by the collision.

When the Sun attended the scene of the collision Monday, both vehicles were severely damaged and one was resting in the ditch.

Yellowhead RCMP and a forensic collision reconstructionist are still investigating the incident.

» dmay@brandonsun.com

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