Province working to improve highway intersection east of Edmonton that was site of death

The family of 17-year-old Annya Palsitt, who was killed in a crash near Mundare, Alta. says an overpass is needed at the site of the crash.

Less than a week ago, Bernie and Allison Palsitt were preparing for their daughter’s graduation party.

Now, they’re planning her funeral.

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Annya Palsitt excelled in sports, loved to paint and planned to become a teacher.

“(She) was such a spitfire; the energy she had was just amazing,” Allison told CTV News Edmonton on Monday. “You couldn’t persuade her to do something unless she really wanted to do it, and she set her mind to do so many things.”

But the 17-year-old’s bright future was cut short last week in a highway collision 75 kilometres east of Edmonton.

Annya was on her way home Wednesday to the family farm near Mundare from work as a camp counsellor when her vehicle was hit by a semi-trailer while crossing Highway 16 on Highway 855.

“Hug your kids and tell them how much they mean to you because you never know when the last time is,” Bernie told CTV News Edmonton.

The highway intersection two kilometres south of the town has been a problem spot for years, says Mundare Mayor Cheryl Calinou, even though improvements to it have been made over time, including flashing signs, better lighting and rumble strips to warn about the crossing.

“It’s always been an ongoing concern because it’s such a bad intersection,” Calinou told CTV News Edmonton. “So many fatalities, accidents almost weekly. It’s been horrible.”

Devin Dreeshan, Alberta’s transportation minister, told CTV News Edmonton in a statement a study was recently done to see what improvements could be made to this intersection, including the need for an interchange. Detailed design work is expected to start as early as 2026.

Once that is complete and funding is in place, Dreeshan says construction could be completed within a two-year window.