‘Doesn’t really feel real’: Mom, daughter remembered after fiery crash northeast of Calgary

A mother and child from Hanna are being remembered by loved ones after a fiery crash east of Calgary claimed their lives.

Amanda Coleman and her three kids were driving home from British Columbia when the vehicle they were in collided head-on with a semi-truck.

The crash occurred on Highway 9 at Highway 566 around 10 p.m. on Sept. 17.

Coleman, 36, and her youngest child, two-year-old Brooklyn, both died in the crash.

Her two other children were injured but survived.

Kaylee Elliott, a good friend of Coleman’s, has provided daycare services for Brooklyn.

“(Amanda is) a single mom and works really hard,” said Elliott.

“She went back to work when Brooklyn was four months old, so I’ve had Brooklyn.”

Elliott says Coleman moved to the community of Hanna around five years ago.

“I keep trying to tell myself that I just really was lucky to have gotten to know Amanda and Brooklyn so well and to have gotten to spend so much time with her, because she was really just an absolute joy,” said Elliott.

Elliott says Amanda’s two older children, Declan and Kaden, were also in the vehicle when it crashed.

“Amanda’s 10-year-old little guy, (Kaden), he’s struggled a bit in school and stuff, but he is just the kindest, sweetest,” said Elliott.

“I was told that Kaden crawled through the back seat with a broken arm and broken fingers and helped get Declan out of the truck.

“He’s really a hero, and I know he doesn’t feel like it right now, but he really is.”

Declan is six years old.

“It just feels like your mom and your sister just disappeared, right? Like they’re just there and then they’re not,” said Elliott.

“He’ll look up to (me and say), ‘My mom, my sister died.’ ‘Yeah. Declan, I’m really sorry.’”

Elliott has set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the two young boys who are staying with their granny, Amanda’s mom.

“She had gone through some really hard times in her life, and she would do anything for anybody,” said Elliott.

“The thing about Amanda was, no matter what, she just always believed in the good in everyone.”

On Sept. 17, Airdrie RCMP received a report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 566 at Highway 9 involving a pickup truck and a semi-truck.

Police believe the pickup was driving north and hit the semi, which was travelling south, and then caught on fire.

The two children were transported to hospital in Calgary.

“We know on average we will attend about 250 fatal collisions on Alberta highways (annually),” said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff with the Alberta RCMP.

“That’s mostly on our rural roads.”

Savinkoff says there are numerous reasons why fatal collisions occur.

“We know that most of our fatalities are caused by usually the same things: excessive speed, distracted driving and impaired driving and so forth,” he said.

Highway 9 east of Calgary has seen several fatalities since the start of 2024.

A 28-year-old Beiseker man was killed at Highway 564 east of Delacour on Aug. 25 when he collided with a semi-truck.

On July 6, a two-vehicle collision near Irricana left one person dead and four others injured.

On June 3, a single-vehicle rollover near Beiseker left a 25-year-old from Irricana dead.

“We know two in particular; I know that impaired driving is a possible cause,” said Savinkoff.

“I noticed that seatbelt usage wasn’t utilized in one. And I noticed that distracted driving may have played a very important contributing factor.”

On July 26, 2024, a semi hauling grain collided with an SUV, killing a man and woman from Calgary and a man and woman from the Philippines.

The truck driver suffered minor injuries.

Mounties say it’s hard to pinpoint why so many collisions are occurring.

“If we look at one thing on Highway 9, we’re not going to find it,” said Savinkoff.

For any fatal collision RCMP respond to, a report is filled out and sent to the province to analyze the statistics.

“They do look at things like environmental factors with the highway itself, kind of down the road, if there are things that can be changed,” said Savinkoff.

Meanwhile, RCMP offer advice:

“Just slowing down, being aware and making sure that you’re fully rested before driving,” said Savinkoff.

The Highway 9 and Highway 564 intersection has been flagged as a concern by Rocky View County residents.

Several fatalities have occurred at that intersection east of Delacour.

The province promises changes are coming.

“The recent collisions along Highway 9 are tragic, and my heart goes out to the families and communities impacted,” said Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen in a statement.

“At the Highway 564 and Highway 9 intersection, several measures are already in place, including dedicated turning lanes, flashing amber beacons, oversized stop signs with flashing red beacons, rumble strips and pavement markings.”

According to the statement, the intersection has been identified for a roundabout.

“We are in the process of hiring an engineering consultant to move the project forward,” read the statement.

“This roundabout is being advanced as part of the capital planning process for Budget 2026.

“We will also continue to assess safety needs along the broader Highway 9 corridor to ensure improvements are made where they are most needed.”