Whitecourt, Alta (Dec 22/03) - A recent former resident of Hay River was killed during a police chase in Alberta on Dec. 16.

The deceased is Shane Wesley Sloat, 31.

According to police news releases, shortly before 5 p.m. on Dec. 16 the RCMP in Whitecourt attempted to stop a vehicle for a minor traffic violation, but it failed to pull over.

The RCMP followed the 1985 Suburban and determined it had been reported stolen in Edmonton the previous day.

The police began a pursuit and attempted to stop the vehicle, which was occupied by a lone male.

The stolen vehicle travelled west on Highway 43, and then north out of Whitecourt on Highway 32, towards Swan Hills for approximately 35 km.

There, the driver turned around, forcing police vehicles off the road, and headed back towards Whitecourt.

The RCMP deployed a spike belt on the highway, but the vehicle continued south with one deflated tire.

At Highway 43, the vehicle turned west toward Fox Creek. Approximately five kilometres west of the junction of Highways 43 and 32, the driver drove into a median crossover of the divided highway, and proceeded west in the eastbound lanes.

One kilometre from the point of entry into the eastbound lanes, the stolen vehicle collided head-on with an eastbound semi truck/trailer unit.

Sloat was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say there are indications the driver may have purposely driven the stolen vehicle into the truck.

"There is a strong belief by the investigators pertaining to that," said Cpl. Peter Nobles, a spokesperson for the Northern Alberta District of the RCMP, although he says he cannot go into detail.

Nobles said the investigation is continuing.

Alcohol use suspected

Police also believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the incident. Nobles said that has to be confirmed by toxicology reports, which will not be available for several weeks.

The driver of the semi unit was not injured.

Nobles said in such instances of police pursuit, the upper management of the RCMP will look at the file to ensure proper procedures were followed.

"The file is not concluded."

The police spokesman said the speed limit on the highway for most of the chase was 100 km/h, and the chase speeds did exceed the limits at times, although he did not know by how much.

At the time of the collision, it is estimated the Suburban was travelling at about 80 km/h.