RCMP won't say whether driver involved in Arnold's Cove double-fatal was impaired

The RCMP has taken the unusual move of confirming it has the results of a blood analysis related to a double-fatal on the Trans-Canada Highway last month, but won't say whether the lone survivor of the collision was impaired.

In a news release issued Wednesday afternoon, RCMP Cpl. Jolene Garland wrote that the Clarenville RCMP has received the results of a forensic analysis of a blood sample taken from the driver of an SUV involved in a deadly Jan. 21 crash near Arnold's Cove.

But the news release did not reveal the results of the testing, and when contacted, Garland declined to offer any additional details.

"Investigations such as these are complex in nature and require time to ensure that all available evidence is obtained and analyzed to determine if charges are appropriate," the news release states.

Erin Pretty of Dildo, Trinity Bay and Haley Keating of Long Harbour, Placentia Bay, both 22, were driving east on the afternoon of Jan. 21 when their small car collided with a larger SUV.

Pretty died at the scene, while Keating died a week later in hospital.

The 71-year-old SUV driver was pulled from his burning vehicle with serious injuries.

In its initial reporting of the crash, the RCMP said the driver "showed signs of impairment," and that a sample of his blood was sent to the RCMP's lab in Ottawa for testing to determine if he was impaired by drugs or alcohol.

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