News briefs for Monday, November 6, 2023

Woman killed in Hwy. 75 crash

2:48 PM

A woman was killed in a crash on Highway 75 late Sunday afternoon.

RCMP were sent to the scene of the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 75 and Provincial Road 305 in the RM of Ritchot at 5:10 p.m.

Police said a vehicle with two women inside was travelling eastbound on 305 when it went through the intersection and was hit by a northbound semi-trailer.

The 40-year-old driver of the eastbound vehicle, a Winnipeg resident, was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The 43-year-old passenger, a Ste. Agathe woman, was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

The 21-year-old driver of the semi-trailer, a Winnipeg man, was not injured, RCMP said.

Police warn about sex offender expected to live in Winnipeg

2:10 PM

Winnipeg police are warning the public about a convicted sex offender who they say is considered a high risk to reoffend in a sexual and violent manner.

Garry Edwards Jr., 45, was released from Stony Mountain Institution on Monday, after being given a 12-year sentence in October 2013 for two counts each of sexual assault with a weapon and armed robbery, plus other offences.

Police said he randomly attacked two women at knifepoint less than an hour apart in April 2012.

Edwards, who has a history of violent sexual offending, is expected to live in Winnipeg, where he must abide by parole conditions, said police.

Women and girls are at risk of sexual violence following the release of Edwards, who is also known as Brendin Edwards, Gary Tait, Gary Crasswell and Gary Crassweller, the WPS said.

Woman killed in rollover crash, driver charged

2:02 PM

A woman from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation has been charged after a passenger was killed in a rollover crash west of the community on Friday evening.

Swan River RCMP were sent to the scene on Provincial Road 483, about 8 km west of Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, at 6:20 p.m.

Mounties said a minivan with four people inside went into a ditch and rolled.

A 33-year-old woman who was a passenger in the minivan was pronounced dead at the scene. A 22-year-old man who is also from the community and a 38-year-old Swan River woman were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver, a 23-year-old woman from the community, was not hurt. She has been charged with impaired driving causing death. RCMP said she gave breath samples that were more than three times the legal limit.

She was held in custody overnight and has since been released.

Police identify man killed in weekend shooting

11:04 AM

One of two men injured in a weekend shooting in St. James has died, Winnipeg police say.

Police identified the homicide victim as 27-year-old Lawrence Evan Pruden of Winnipeg.

The double shooting happened in the 1800 block of Portage Avenue at about 1 a.m. Sunday.

The other victim has been upgraded from critical to stable condition in hospital, police said.

Vacant Selkirk Avenue home ‘complete loss’ after fire

8:25 AM

A home on Selkirk Avenue was destroyed by fire Monday morning.

Fire crews were sent to the vacant, two-storey house at 1070 Selkirk Ave. at 7:42 a.m.

Firefighters battled the blaze from outside and used an aerial ladder to spray water on it. Crews also worked to protect the neighbouring homes, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said in a news release. Crews evacuated residents from the neighbouring homes as a precaution.

The fire was declared under control at 9:18 a.m.

“The house is considered a complete loss. As the structural integrity of the building is compromised, arrangements are being made for the building to be demolished,” the WFPS said late Monday morning.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Selkirk was closed between Arlington and McPhillips streets as fire crews battled the blaze but has since reopened.