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GoFundMe created for Airdrie father killed by impaired driver

Aimee Forseth said her husband Matt was always playful, funny, goofy and loved to joke around. His three teenaged daughters Brooklynn, Cheyenne and Phoenyx were his pride and joy.
ForsethFamily
Aimee (second from left) and Matt Forseth (second from right) smiling with their daughters at a recent graduation celebration. Matt died tragically after a motorvehicle accident on June 27.

Aimee Forseth said her husband Matt was always playful, funny, goofy and loved to joke around. His three teenaged daughters Brooklynn, Cheyenne and Phoenyx were his pride and joy.

“He was a great dad,” Forseth said. “He was very proud of his daughters – his face always lit up when talking to them or about them.”

Matt was tragically killed on June 27, when travelling northbound on his motorcycle near Highway 22 and Range 43 in Mountain View County.

According to a press release from Alberta RCMP, a preliminary investigation indicated a pick-up truck was travelling southbound on Highway 22 when it attempted to pass a van and lost control, hitting an SUV that was travelling northbound. The truck then rolled multiple times into oncoming northbound traffic, eventually colliding with two motorcycles that were travelling northbound.

The driver of the SUV was treated for minor injuries on the scene, while the passenger was uninjured. According to the release, the operator of the second motorcycle was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The 25-year-old woman operating the pick-up was subsequently arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death. She was taken to hospital for treatment of her injuries and had yet to be formally charged as of July 5, according to RCMP.

Following the news of Matt’s unexpected passing, Tara Nicholson – a friend of Forseth’s – launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to cover funeral costs and support the grieving family.

“Matt was one of the kindest men I had the privilege of knowing,” reads the description of the GoFundMe page. “He was always there for his friends and family through thick and thin.”

As of press time, the page had raised $6,228 – surpassing its original goal of $5,000.

Forseth said she has been overwhelmed by the support she and her daughters have received in the wake of Matt’s tragic death.

She emphasized that although the last week has been an extremely difficult time for her family, the aid provided by the community will serve as a reminder of the love that surrounds them.

“We have a great community,” she said.

“Obviously, the girls are devastated and doing the best that they can to get through every day. I think the support that has come through has really shown them and given them peace of mind that they’re not alone in this.”

The GoFundMe page can be found at bit.ly/2UrnT9K

In the wake of the tragic incident, Alberta RCMP are reminding drivers that it is never a good idea to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Cpl. Tammy Keibel said that in 2020, approximately 20 per cent of all fatal motor vehicle collisions in Alberta involved impaired driving.

Keibel said Alberta RCMP charged 310 individuals last July with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, with eight of those incidents resulting in injuries or death.

She said weekends and holidays in the summertime typically see an increase in impaired drivers. With that in mind, she encourages Albertans to make a plan for a safe ride home.

“This could be having a designated driver, calling a taxi or ride-share service, using public transportation, or spending the night with a friend or family member,” she said.

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