Police are stressing safety on Saskatchewan roadways as the number of people killed in fatal crashes has already surpassed last year’s total. From June 1 to July 22, Saskatchewan RCMP officers responded to 23 fatal crashes resulting in the deaths of 27 people. The most recent incident happened July 21, which saw an 18-year-old woman die in an ATV rollover on Canoe Lake Cree First Nation. Since July 10, 17 people have died on provincial roadways, according to RCMP. In a four-day stretch, spanning from July 16 to July 20, a total of nine people perished across five fatal crashes. The spike in fatal crashes on the road represents a 77 per cent increase from 2025 and a 108 per cent increase in the total number of lives lost – with 13 people killed in 13 collisions last year. “To be clear, these are not just numbers; they represent lives lost, and these numbers are increasing,” Insp. Lee Knelsen told reporters Wednesday. Knelsen said the four main contributing factors to most fatal collisions are not using seatbelts, speeding, drugs/alcohol impairment and distracted driving. “They are very prevalent in a lot of these collisions and fatalities, and really, it is something that is under the complete control of these operators,” he added. On average, drug or alcohol impairment is a contributing factor of one in three fatal collisions in Saskatchewan. In the first six months of 2026, 35 per cent of fatal crashes involved alcohol or drugs. The RCMP enlists 100 traffic services officers, who are scattered throughout the province, in addition to 34 officers who operate as part of Combined Traffic Safety Saskatchewan (CTSS). However, with Saskatchewan being so vast, Knelsen says police are depending on drivers to make the right decisions and to be aware. Drivers who may witness an impaired driver are asked to call 911 and report them. “I don’t know that there’s anybody out there that has the capacity to determine whether they are over or under the legal limits. Certainly, we find enough of them on the road that feel that they are,” he noted. “If you are drinking, if you are impaired, stay home, find a safe ride home, or just stay the night.” A full list of fatal accidents in RCMP jurisdiction since July 10 are listed below: Friday, July 10 Highway 16 near North Battleford – 1 dead – Pedestrian struck by semi Saturday, July 11 Highway 40 near Battleford – 1 dead – Motorcycles collided Sunday, July 12 Wednesday, July 15 Thursday, July 16 Highway 219 near Outlook – 2 dead – Motorcycle collided with car Saturday, July 18 Highway 11 near Lumsden – 2 dead – Head-on collision Sunday, July 19 Highway 212 near Duck Lake – 1 dead – Pedestrian collision Monday, July 20 Tuesday, July 21 Canoe Lake Cree First Nation – 1 dead – ATV rollover
