CALGARY — The first major snowfall of the season resulted in one fatal collision, while hundreds of out-of-control motorists crashed on icy roads.
A 20-year-old High River woman was killed instantly yesterday morning after crossing the median and slamming into an oncoming semi truck on the southeastern outskirts of the city.
The woman was driving a Ford Ranger southbound on Hwy. 2, just past Dunbow Rd., when the crash happened, said Okotoks RCMP Const. Jason Wells.
“Either a result of driver error or road conditions, or a combination,” he said, adding alcohol wasn’t a factor.
The semi-truck driver, in his 30s, was taken to Foothills with non-life-threatening injuries, said Wells.
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Same as here in Manitoba it seems. Every spring very many motorists go somewhere and get de-programed. Their memory banks wiped clean about how driving conditions actually differ from season to season here in Canada.
I’m expecting it here any day now. Time to put things away for another winter.
As an retired Traffic Cop I just laugh when mother nature always gets blamed for the carnage caused by people who aren’t able to drive properly in adverse conditions.
That includes proper tires for the season. Over driving your stopping ability. Following to close. Not slowing in blizzard or fog conditions. The list could go on and on.
If I had to guess it would be that the young lady who died had little if any experience in slippery conditions. Her ranger probably had all season tires and little if any weight in the box. I own a Ranger and know how easy they can spin out. Was she driving on cruise control? That’s a no no in adverse conditions as well but few people are aware of that.
Cst. Wells should have just left it at driver error or not commented.
mid island mike
I know exactly what you’re writing about, Mike. Been there, done that (working a high speed highway in whiteouts) and I agree.
Yeah, but we’re building a $25 million high tech walking bridge over the Bow! So, bleah!
This town (Calgary) sucks on road clearing, has for the close to 30 years I’ve lived here. No motivation to get trucks out before the morning rush, ever. Our city waits for Chinooks to do the work they should be doing. My street is never ploughed all winter long. You take your life in your hands driving in Calgary City limits in the winter.
Most commenters on the Calgary blogs are saying “dump the cash for the bridge and use it for snow removal”. Bronco is in the doghouse this week. Hope it lasts until election time, next year.
The ice on the roads in Edmonton was terrible last night. I slid through 2 red lights trying to get home around midnight after work. I have one of those little ford Rangers with winter tires and about 180kg of sand bags in the back over the rear axle (and I’m driving slow as hell to give myself lots of stopping distance.) I’m lucky I didn’t cause an accident. I’m thinking about getting new winter tires with the studs in them. Do those things actually do any good?
Ontario has banned studded tires for many years but from what I recall of them they are excellent on ice. Make certain they’re legal though before you invest.
Thanks Jack. They’re still legal in Alberta from what I hear but the studs fall out after 1 or 2 seasons.
Last winter here in the Comox Valley we got about 3-4 weeks of real winter. I bought winter tire for the focus and it made a world of difference. On the Ranger I have chains for both axles if need be and I have used them.
Christmas 2007 we were returning to Comox from Nanaimo around 11pm on the Inland Hwy which is much higher elevation than the route along the ocean. The roads were wet most of the way but not icy. About 30 km south of Courtenay the road reaches its highest elevation. I saw a lot of flashing lights about 1 km ahead and started to slow and nearly lost it. For about 3-5 km the wet had turned into ice without any advance warning. Got through it ok but that was why I bought winter grips for the 2008 winter. The highway is four lane divided with a 10 meter grass median so there was no risk of crossing into oncoming traffic.
mid island mike