By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Man charged in fatal pedestrian hit and run collision

Nov 14, 2018 | 2:13 PM

A suspect has been arrested and charged eight months after a fatal pedestrian hit and run collision in Red Deer.

The crash on the night of March 11 claimed the life of  Darren Nickolson, 38, who was standing near a parked vehicle on the 5200 Block of 76 Street when he was hit by a red truck that did not stop afterward. 

The truck involved in the collision, an older model truck with a red cab, amber lights on the roof and a black wooden flatbed box, was recovered in early April. 

Red Deer RCMP say a suspect was identified after a lengthy investigation involving a number of interviews and the painstaking collection of evidence. Police then determined he had relocated to Saskatchewan.

On November 12, members of the Red Deer RCMP flew to Nipawin, Saskatchewan and arrested the suspect and brought him back to Red Deer to face charges.

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Tosh Verstraeten, 29, is charged with one count of failing to remain at the scene of a collision in which a person dies.  

Verstraeten has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on December 5.

Red Deer RCMP received countless public tips and support throughout the course of this investigation, and want to express their appreciation to citizens.

“While criminal charges cannot replace the loss of a loved one, we are hopeful that this will help the victim’s family and friends to find some closure,” says Sergeant Kevin Halwa of the Red Deer RCMP. “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by this tragic event.”