Diabetes the suspected cause of high-profile accident in Edmonton

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EDMONTON, Alta. — Amateur video of a spectacular truck accident in Edmonton is attracting thousands of views around the world and leading to plenty of speculation about the driver’s intent, after he was filmed travelling in the wrong direction along Yellowhead Trail.

But those who know the victim who died in the wreck, are saying it was a medical condition that caused the accident and not a malicious plot or suicide attempt.

A 25-year-old driver travelled 20 km in the wrong direction before plunging over an overpass, a scene that was caught on camera by another motorist. A family friend of the victim told the National Post “He had Type 1 diabetes since he was young.”

“It had to be the diabetes. He has crashed (medically) many times and gone into hypoglycemia. When that happens, he gets into seizures,” the friend told the National Post. “He wasn’t suicidal. He wasn’t drunk. He was a very happy young man.”

The family has expressed anger over reports on the Internet that have suggested the driver may have been suicidal based on his driving actions.

– With files from the National Post

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