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Local hockey player killed in crash southeast of Red Deer

Mar 13, 2018 | 7:06 PM

A two-vehicle collision east of Torrington Tuesday morning claimed the life of a local hockey player.

According to Three Hills RCMP, a semi-tanker was travelling southbound on Range Road 252 and turned onto westbound Highway 27 at about 8:10 a.m.

There, the semi was hit by a Jeep Patriot already travelling westbound on Highway 27.

Mounties say the driver and lone occupant of the Jeep died at the scene. The Red Deer Optimist Chiefs announced on Twitter that the deceased was a member of their team, 17-year-old Ryan McBeath of Olds.

McBeath recently finished his second season in the Alberta Midget Hockey League with the Optimist Chiefs. He also played a pair of games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League this season with the Drumheller Dragons.

The semi driver was not injured in the collision.

Cpl. Curtis Peters said there was thick fog in the area at the time of the crash which may have contributed to the cause of the accident. Environment Canada issued a fog advisory for the area earlier in the morning.

(Below is a video feature from earlier this year after McBeath was named rdnewsNOW Athlete of the Month)