An Edmonton man, his wife, and their eight-year-old son tragically died after their utility terrain vehicle went into a lake. A friend, Michael Occhionero, emphasized that the man, Kelly Pelsma, wasn’t the type to deliberately put his family at risk, stating, “To me, that’s a freak accident.” The family was reported missing after last being seen in Alberta Beach, northwest of Edmonton, on a side-by-side vehicle.
Following an extensive search, the RCMP discovered the family’s bodies in the lake near the Alexis Bridge. Mr. Occhionero, a friend of Pelsma’s from Idaho, highlighted their friendship and the time the two spent together at a UTV event in Idaho. According to Mr. Occhionero, Mr. Pelsma was a cautious and calculated-risk type of individual. The Pelsma’s side-by-side had broken down, prompting UTV enthusiasts to help replace the vehicle’s belt.
Pelsma, who had also been a cast member on the TV show “License to Drill,” seemingly enjoyed adventure and thrill. He and his family’s recent purchase of a property at Lac Ste. Anne was relatively new and unfamiliar to them. The accident occurred near the Alexis Bridge, an area with unpredictable water currents and thin ice, a fact that had been acknowledged by residents and local authorities. The tragic loss was deeply felt and mourned by their friends and the UTV community.