Families call for accountability in deaths of 2 men in northern Alberta motorcycle crash

Dozens of protesters gathered outside RCMP headquarters in Edmonton Friday as the families of two men killed in a northern Alberta highway crash last summer called for accountability.

The demonstration was organized by friends and relatives of Tyler Duboski, 33, of Edmonton, and Laurent Isadore, 38, of Driftpile First Nation. 

The men died on Aug. 31 near the hamlet of Faust, about 300 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

They were in a convoy of motorcycles on a charity ride when a semi-truck crossed the centre line on Highway 2, fatally striking Isadore and Duboski and injuring four others.

No charges have been laid against the truck driver.

Duboski's sister, Tiannah Mansell, said Friday's protest was held to call on the RCMP for accountability in their ongoing investigation.

"We're just waiting and waiting and that's where our frustration is coming from," she told CBC on Friday. 

"I was hoping that charges would have been laid and we can finally try to grieve properly and not be so led by anger. 

"I'm hoping that the RCMP will see this and just realize that people are really hurting over this and we just want justice at the end of the day, that's all we want." 

Mansell said survivors of the crash deserve answers.

"All the survivors, they're not really sleeping," she said.

"They close their eyes and all they see is the accident replaying in their head over and over. And they wake up screaming and yelling and crying — just horrible nightmares."

On Friday, one rider injured in the collision described difficulty in dealing with insurance providers for medical help without charges being laid.

A spokesperson for the RCMP said charges are pending and that every investigation requires different time frames to investigate.

Community grieving

The men were travelling together down the highway as part of a charity ride for homeless Albertans put on by the Redrum Motorcycle Club.

Mansell said her big brother was focused on giving back to his community.

They shared a special bond, and she was proud to watch Tyler grow into a devoted father to his daughter, now 14, and a beloved uncle to her kids. 

She wants her brother remembered for his kindness and generosity.

"He had a rough life growing up when he was young but he was making the biggest changes in his life," she said. 

"He was lost at a really young age but he was doing really good things in the world … he was the most loving person and we should all try to be more like him." 

Mansell said her brother looked up to Isadore as a mentor. 

Isadore was proud of his Woodlands Cree heritage and a traditional knowledge keeper for his community, often teaching local youth about their culture. He had organized the charity ride to help people who were experiencing homelessness on Treaty 8 territory. 

At Friday's protest, Isadore's fiancée, Brenda Powder, sang a traditional song handed down by his mother.

"He was a very influential person for bringing healing to everybody to any circle he was in — it didn't matter who the person was. He had unconditional love for everybody of all walks of life," Powder said.

"He saved a lot of people."

She said the bereaved have received overwhelming support from the community and that many are watching what happens.

"We have lots of people who are waiting for this, to see the outcome."