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Alta. RCMP officer killed in crash was enthusiastic, well-liked
MILLET, Alta. — The RCMP constable killed in a crash on an Alberta highway on Tuesday had dreamt of a career as an officer, even listening to police radios as a teen growing up.
“It’s tragic, because he pursued his career with such zeal,” said Randy Lundblad, a relative of Const. James Lundblad.
“He had one of those band radios where you can listen in on police calls, and he would do that quite often. He was just interested to see how things transpired.”
The 41-year-old constable was parked on the shoulder of a highway near Millet, about 50 kilometres south of Edmonton, when a suspected speeder shot by around 10 a.m. local time. Lundblad was making a
U-turn to give chase, when a grain truck slammed into the driver’s side of his cruiser, killing him instantly.
Patti Deby, who came upon the crash scene, said Lundblad seemed beyond help.
“There didn’t seem to be a sense of urgency to get him out of the car,” she said.
The uninjured driver of the five-tonne grain truck was beside his own vehicle, head in hands, Deby said.
As the cruiser was towed away, it became apparent the driver’s side was crushed from the top down.
Randy Lundblad said the family was shocked to hear about Lundblad’s death. He applied unsuccessfully to the RCMP for years, Randy said.
“He talked to me once quite a few years ago, eight or 10 years ago, and he was so dismayed that he hadn’t found a way in. I said to him, ‘James, you’ve pursued this so long, stick with it, you will find a way.’”
Lundblad, who was single, filled his time with odd jobs until he was accepted into the force about eight years ago, Randy said.
“He was elated and we were just so happy for him.”
Lundblad’s first posting was to Edson, Alta., 7 1/2 years ago.
“He had a lot of friends and was well-liked. He wasn’t one of those guys,” Edson Mayor Greg Pasychny said. “In a small town, people talk, and you never heard anything bad about him.”
The mayor said he got to know Lundblad, since there was a close relationship between the police and the volunteer fire department, to which Pasychny belongs.
L
undblad was a friendly, outgoing person who got along with people, he said.
Pasychny said many members of the RCMP detachment were close with Lundblad, and were taking his death extremely hard. They were too
upset to speak to reporters, but Pasychny said they wanted people to know about Lundblad’s commitment to the community.
“He was always the guy who was pushing them to get the red Serges on, go to the parades and be involved in the community,” Pasychny said.
“He was very proud of his trumpet-playing. He always played at the Legion each Remembrance Day.”
Lundblad left Edson about a year and a half ago to work for RCMP traffic services in Camrose, Alta.
“I do remember the day he was leaving. He was looking forward to a change, but he had a lot of friends here,” Pasychny said.
The possibility of such a crash while enforcing traffic laws weighs constantly on the minds of officers, said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes, who once worked in traffic services.
“You intersect traffic. You cross traffic. You do as the constable was doing, engaged in speed enforcement and other enforcement activities, all in an effort to hopefully make our highways safer for all travellers,” Oakes said. “That’s what makes this death so absolutely tragic.”
Premier Ed Stelmach expressed his sadness in a statement issued from Geneva, Switzerland, where he was attending at an economic forum.
“I am very saddened to hear of the passing of this RCMP member,” Stelmach said.
“The men and women who wear the uniform of the RCMP are a source of pride in Alberta. The loss of one of our peace officers in the line of duty is mourned by the entire community.”
Edmonton Journal
with files from Jamie Hall
bgelinas@thejournal.canwest.com
ldrake@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
