A section of Highway 2 north of Airdrie and south of Crossfield was shut down June 26 at 3:15 p.m. after an accident involving five vehicles left one woman hospitalized and in critical condition.
A tanker truck designed to carry ammonium nitrate was travelling northbound on Highway 2 when it collided with a pickup truck. The accident occurred about one kilometre south of Highway 72. The impact caused the tanker to jackknife and crush an SUV, a third vehicle that was travelling alongside it. The driver of the SUV, an adult female from Calgary was transported to a Calgary hospital via STARS Air Ambulance in critical condition and her name has not been released.
Airdrie closed a portion of the highway as a precaution and requested HAZMAT investigate the scene. It was determined the tanker was empty and not leaking hazardous materials.
The driver of the pickup truck was taken to hospital but was suspected to be released, the driver of the tanker truck was also taken to hospital as a precaution. Two other vehicles were involved in the incident but no one else was injured.
Airdrie RCMP Cst. Robert Frizzell said that the section of highway was shut down until 8:30 p.m., vehicles were re-routed to secondary highways between Airdrie and Crossfield.
The driver of the tanker truck is under investigation.
“Any time you rear-end someone, you’re the one at fault,” said Frizzell. “We’re still investigating and there is a strong possibility of charges being laid against the driver of the tanker.”
Grass fire
Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) responded to a report of a grass fire at 50 Sandstone Crescent at around 5:30 p.m. on June 26.
The fire was threatening a detached garage when crews arrived on the scene; they quickly extinguished and contained the blaze, which had spread from the grass to the rear exterior wall of a detached garage. Investigation revealed the cause of the fire was a cigarette that was thrown on to some dry grass and white pollen that falls from trees.
AFD Deputy Fire Chief Garth Rabel says that grass fires are typically caused by people.
“These types of fires can start from a child playing with matches or anything like that,” said Rabel.
Thanks to some heavy rainfall the risk of spontaneous grass fires are very low right now but Rabel says that can change quickly.
“With the temperatures we’ve been getting and with the wind blowing, it doesn’t take long for things to dry out and something as simple as even a hot exhaust pipe could start a grass fire,” he said.
If you have information on any unsolved crime, call Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200.
