Calgary police charge 1 with manslaughter in Temple road rage incident

Calgary police say a man is dead and another has been charged with manslaughter after a road rage incident in the northeast community of Temple on Tuesday.

Investigators say around 12:30 p.m., on Dec. 12, police got a call from a passenger who was riding in a red 2004 Chevrolet Aveo, who reported they were involved in an ongoing road rage incident while driving on several different roads in the northeast.

Police say a 2002 GMC Sierra was reported to be driving erratically at the time, swerving in and out of traffic, and allegedly flashed a knife towards the people in the Chevrolet Aveo.

The altercation is said to have started after a non-injury hit-and-run that happened between the two vehicles shortly before the call was made to 911.

While on the phone with 911, the people in the Chevrolet were told to disengage with the driver of the GMC, but police say they continued to follow the vehicle.

The argument continued to escalate, according to police, and the driver of the truck pulled over and got out of his vehicle on Temple Drive NE near 64 Street NE.

A short time later, the Chevrolet Aveo drove past the driver of the truck, and police believe he kicked the passenger side of the vehicle.

The car then stopped and reversed into the driver of the truck, who was hit and pushed into a nearby tree.

The driver of the GMC was declared dead at the scene.

Police arrested the two people in the car, and have laid manslaughter charges against 34-year-old Steven Allen, who was driving.

The passenger was released without charges.

Allen is to appear in court on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.

The driver of the truck was identified as 35-year-old David Mervin Berglund through an autopsy on Wednesday, according to Calgary police.

Anyone with information about this incident or who has dashcam or CCTV footage is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers.