On Tuesday June 9, 2015, a beautiful summer day ended in tragedy as a serious accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 791. Three vehicles were involved in this accident and although the exact cause remains under investigation, it has shaken an entire community.
A car travelling northbound on Highway 791 stopped at the stop sign, then proceeded into the intersection. Another car with 17 year old Jaydon Sommerfeld and his 16 year old girlfriend, Marina Laycraft, were heading eastbound when the collision occurred in the intersection. A third vehicle, a truck also heading eastbound on Highway 1, was then also involved.
Sommerfeld had to be extricated from the car and was then airlifted to Foothills Medical Centre by STARS air ambulance in life-threatening condition. His passenger was taken to Foothills by ground paramedic crews in serious but stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
The woman in the car that was heading northbound on Highway 791 was taken to Peter Lougheed Centre in stable condition with minor injuries. Her identity and the identity of the driver of the third vehicle are unknown.
Upon hearing the news of this terrible accident and learning that it was one of Chestermere’s own that was the most seriously injured, the entire community began sending prayers and messages of support to the family. An update via Facebook from Sheri Sommerfeld later that Tuesday evening stated that Jaydon had been moved to ICU and had sustained very serious brain injury.
With an entire community praying for a miracle, it was a heartbreaking moment when on the early afternoon of June 10th, the following message was released from a close friend of the family, Maureen Fehr. “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I pass on the news that despite the best efforts of the doctors and prayers for a miracle from everyone, Jaydon will not survive yesterday’s accident. The family has decided to donate his organs”.
As the news of Jaydon’s passing spread through the community, a deep sorrow and heartbreak could be felt. Students of Chestermere High School and other Chestermere schools were absolutely devastated by the news as well as the staff and administration.
As the day progressed, students of CHS began setting up memorials for their dear friend. A memorial of flowers joined by a tree where people were invited to write and hang their memories of Jaydon appeared at Jaydons parking stall within hours of his passing. Later that evening, hundreds of students and Chestermere residents came together at John Peake park and released balloons as a farewell tribute to their friend. Later that evening, the students held a candle light vigil back at the memorial at the Chestermere High School parking lot. Photos, memories and words of love and sympathy were shared all over social media, everyone just trying to find a way to deal with this devastating loss.
In the mix of all this loss and hurt, the conversation surrounding this extremely dangerous intersection had lots of residents calling for change. On June 10th, Raeanne Dame launched an online petition to get traffic lights installed at this deadly intersection. Many residents began contacting Chestermere City Council, Rocky View County, MLA Leela Aheer and even the Minister of Transportation and Premiere Rachel Notley.
Alberta Transportation provided us with the following statement, “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those impacted by the collision at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 791. We are deeply saddened by the loss of the young man. As the cause of the collision is currently under investigation by the RCMP, we cannot speculate on the cause. Highway safety is Alberta Transportation’s top priority and we are working with the Town of Chestermere to improve safety at the intersection of Highway 1 and 791. Recently we completed the construction of a median acceleration lane for northbound traffic heading westbound to safely get up to speed. Another suggested option is traffic signals, though on high speed multi-lane highways they are not necessarily a safety improvement”. Upon asking them if they would expedite a solution, they responded saying, “Alberta Transportation is working closely with the Town of Chestermere and other stakeholders to determine the best long-term solutions to improve safety at Highway 1 and Highway 791, including the possible construction of an interchange (not an overpass) and realignment of Highway 791”.
City of Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews released this statement, “As a mother of teenagers, I can’t imagine the pain and anguish these families must be going through. This is the worst news that any parent can get. On behalf of Council and staff at the City, I extend our deepest sympathies to everyone involved, especially this boy’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this very difficult time.
“As a Mayor, it is especially devastating that this would happen just as the City is seeing Alberta Transportation construct a safer intersection for residents, students, and the general public.
We anxiously await the final implementation of an interchange at this location. We will continue to advocate to Alberta Transportation for improvements to this intersection so heartbreaking accidents like this one can be avoided in the future”.
Rocky View MLA, Leela Aheer, also addressed the issue of this intersection saying, “I have driven this intersection since 1986, and I have seen too many close calls, too many deaths.
These devastating accidents can almost immediately be prevented through low-cost, temporary solutions until funding is found to build an interchange, and I will be writing Transportation Minister Brian Mason and asking him to explore the options available. I’m calling on the NDP to work with me and explore short-term solutions to securing the safety of this intersection for all Albertans. Wildrose has fought for the safety of this intersection for the past number of years, and I will pick up and keep up that fight in my new role as MLA.”
From 2008 to 2012, there have been 13 intersection related accidents at the Highway 1 and Highway 791 intersection. Seven of those crashed caused injury, six of them led to property damage only but now this latest one has now caused a fatality. With 3200 signatures on the petition, with many more likely to come, and now the life of a young man, residents are hoping that it will be enough to see a significant change so that no lives are lost.
Rocky View School Board Trustee, Bev LaPeare stated, “My heart goes out to the families involved in this terrible accident. I informed the Board today that I’m going to be making a motion at our next Board meeting to write a letter to the provincial government to fast track the proposed over pass at that intersection. We’ve written letters about the dangers of the intersection in the past but to no avail. This is the beginning of the advocacy that I’ll be proposing. I’m hopeful that the new government will listen to our pleas and work to prevent another tragedy”.
In a Facebook post on a page set up to honour the memory of her son, Sheri Sommerfeld made this statement on Thursday June 11th, “At some point today, up to 8 people’s lives will be saved by our amazing son. I hope one day that maybe we can meet one whom he will live inside forever”.
On Friday June 12, the family announced the Jaydon Sommerfeld Memory Bursary. This bursary will be awarded beginning in 2016 to a Chestermere High School student in Grade 11 and/or 12 and who best displays the characteristics that Jaydon held so true: academic standing, athletic ability (inside or outside of school), and kindness, integrity, dedication and a love of life.
Donations of any amount being made via cash, cheque or money order should be made out to Chestermere High School with “Jaydon Sommerfeld Memorial Bursary” somewhere on the cheque or envelope so staff knows that the money is to be directed to this initiative. Cheques and cash can then be delivered to Chestermere High School or Rainbow Creek Elementary. Online donations can also be made at www.legup.ca/campaigns/jaydon-sommerfeld-memorial-bursary. Also, the local No Frills is collecting donations at their registers for the bursary.
It is no question that this devastation will haunt the Chestermere community for months and even years to come. The tragic loss of a remarkable son, a wonderful friend and valued member of the community, he will be missed by all.
