More than a day after a man in his 50s was struck and killed in a collision with a stolen vehicle in west Edmonton; his wife spoke to CTV News, and described the shock of her family’s sudden loss.
“You think you’re going to spend the rest of your life with somebody,” Audrey Flynn said Tuesday, the day after her husband Lyle Rude, 52, died in a fatal crash on the west side.
Police said the other vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee involved in the crash was stolen, and officers had found it travelling on 118 Avenue at 156 Street.
Officers followed the stolen Jeep to the area of 100 Avenue, where they attempted to stop the driver just before 6 a.m. – however the suspect sped off in the Jeep – officers started to chase the vehicle, but the chase was quickly called off.
A short time later, police said the suspect vehicle collided with a GMC Sport-utility vehicle at 156 Street and 100 Avenue.
“We want to weigh the best interests of public safety and in this case it unfortunately didn’t end the way we would like,” Duty Inspector Dean Hilton said Monday. “Now, the family has to grieve the loss of a 52-year-old male.”
Police said the driver of the SUV, Lyle Rude, was ejected from his vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the other vehicle was taken to hospital with injuries to his legs.
Rude had been on his way to work when the collision happened – his wife said she doesn’t understand what the driver was thinking at the time.
“Unfortunately this guy didn’t stop, and I’m extremely bitter,” Audrey Flynn said. “It’s such a shock.”
Flynn told CTV News they had been together for fourteen years – and her husband was loved at home, and respected at work.
“We were really enjoying our lives together, the kids were out by themselves,” Flynn said. “It was time for us to have our lives together.
“It’s absolutely soul destroying.”
With files from David Ewasuk
