Appeal dismissed for Alberta driver in fatal 2021 Sicamous crash

Kent Gordon Rumbles, an Alberta man, lost his appeal against a four-year prison sentence for a fatal collision in Sicamous. The crash occurred on the evening of November 6, 2021, on the Bruhn Bridge when two pickup trucks collided head-on.

Shaun Stacey Michael, a 48-year-old driver from Kamloops, died at the scene. Rumbles, the sole occupant of the eastbound truck, was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

“Eventually, he drove head on into Mr. Michael's vehicle.”

Police determined that Rumbles had crossed the centre line. He was convicted of dangerous operation causing death, impaired operation causing death, and operating with 80 milligrams of alcohol or more per 100 millilitres of blood causing death.

Rumbles was sentenced to four years in prison in March 2025 and was later granted bail after filing a notice of appeal. An appeal hearing took place on June 25, 2026.

Justice Karen Horsman dismissed the appeal on October 16, 2026. She noted that Rumbles, an insulin-dependent diabetic, did not eat before leaving his home in Thorsby or pack food for the trip to Mabel Lake.

During the drive, Rumbles purchased alcohol, including a six-pack of White Claw hard seltzers, two bottles of wine, and a 750 ml bottle of raspberry vodka. Police found the vodka bottle three-quarters empty at the scene.