Charges have been laid regarding the fatal motor vehicle crash that happened Jan. 20, near Widewater, approximately 10 minutes west of Slave Lake. Raymond Charles Yellowknee, age 32, of Wabasca, has been taken into custody and is charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing death. He also faces four counts of flight from police causing death, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and driving while suspended.
The crash occurred on Hwy #2 as the RCMP was responding to a complaint of a stolen vehicle. It appeared to police that Yellowknee was about to pull over and stop when the stolen Chevy pickup quickly sped away. Shortly thereafter, the truck started fishtailing, entered oncoming traffic, and collided head on with a Pontiac Sunfire being driven by Misty Chalifoux who was on her way to Slave Lake to do some shopping.
Misty Chalifoux, 28, and two of her daughters, Michelle Lisk, 13, and Trista Chalifoux, 9, were killed instantly. The youngest daughter, Larissa Chalifoux, 6, was airlifted to Edmonton but succumbed to her injuries the next evening. Yellowknee was also airlifted to Edmonton with life-threatening injuries.
The funeral for Misty and her children took place last Friday at the Driftpile Cree Nation School at 11:00 a.m. with a wake held the night before.
Misty was enrolled in Northern Lakes College’s Aboriginal Teachers Education Program (ATEP). Classmate Jennifer Churchill is trying to establish a trust fund for Misty’s two surviving children, both of whom are under two years of age. People wishing to help may drop off their donations at the front desk of any Northern Lakes College.
Last week, The Leader erroneously reported that both air evacuations were performed by STARS out of Edmonton. In truth, one of the evacuations was carried out by Slave Air and its air ambulance service. STARS was never on the scene.
Slave Lake police is working with the RCMP’s criminal crash investigation team, collision reconstruction analysts, and Major Crimes Unit, as well as Edmonton Police Services to investigate all aspects of this tragic accident.

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