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Cst. Allan Poapst (RCMP HANDOUT)

An on-duty Manitoba RCMP officer was killed Friday afternoon in a crash on the North Perimeter Highway.

Cst. Allan Poapst was involved in a head-on collision on the Perimeter just east of Highway 7 at around 4 p.m. when an eastbound pickup truck crossed the centre median and collided with the officer’s westbound RCMP vehicle.

Poapst, 49, was pronounced deceased on scene, while the driver and passenger in the pickup were transported to hospital with injuries.

Emergency crews were responding to multiple vehicle collisions Friday after snowfall earlier in the day made for treacherous driving conditions.

Cst. Poapst was the father of three teenaged girls and was five days away from serving 13 years with the RCMP. At the time of the collision, Poapst was returning to his office after carrying out duties as a court liaison.

Cst. Allan Poapst (RCMP HANDOUT)

“He was a dedicated officer who worked hard to serve Manitobans,” said Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy, Commanding Officer of the Manitoba RCMP.

“In fact, after graduating from Depot in 2006, all of his service with the RCMP was spent within Manitoba. His postings included Portage la Prairie, Powerview, and the Court Liaison Unit based out of Headingley.”

MacLatchy said Poapst had recently attended the Grey Cup game in Calgary and was a devoted Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Winnipeg Jets fan.

“He volunteered with the True North’s Foundation — Jets Training Academy for youth and was an avid player and a key organizer in many police and fire hockey tournaments.”

The officer’s family has requested privacy at this time.

The crash remains under investigation by both RCMP and the Winnipeg police.

An online fundraiser has been established in Poapst’s memory.

We are deeply saddened to announce that one of our officers died in a motor vehicle collision on the Perimeter Highway this afternoon while on duty. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. More details will be provided tomorrow. #rcmpmb pic.twitter.com/TMU4TSVt2r — RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) December 14, 2019

Originally published on Friday, December 13