After another fatal collision at the intersection of Highway 21 and Highway 9, outside of the Village of Beiseker, July 15, has officials and residents are calling for safety measures to be implemented at the infamous intersection.
An 18-year-old man from Three Hills died after being involved in a three-vehicle collision on July 15.
(See related story on page 4).
Police investigation confirmed a transport truck was travelling northbound on Highway 21 and failed to stop for a posted stop sign at a controlled intersection and collided with a Honda Civic travelling eastbound on Highway 9.
The two vehicles then collided into a parked Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck located north of the intersection and subsequently hit two workers doing highway maintenance on Highway 21.
Alberta’s Minister of Transportation Ric Mclver issued a statement July 16, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims involved in the deadly collision.
“Alberta Transportation is deeply saddened by the death of a highway worker and the serious injury to a second worker Monday (July 15) near Beiseker,” Mclver stated. “Our hearts go out to their families and friends during this time. The tragedy is felt throughout the entire department and industry.”
The ministry is calling for motorists to exercise caution when entering construction zones and at busy intersections.
“Alberta Transportation is working with our safety partners to review the incident and ensure we are doing everything we can to protect highway workers and drivers throughout the province.”
This isn’t the first time the intersection has been in the news, a 19-year-old Calgarian was killed in a collision involving a cattle liner on Highway 9 east of Beiseker, in April 2012.
The Village’s Deputy Mayor Al Henuset said the municipality has been involved in conversations with department of transportation over the years.
“We kept after them to get on it,” he said.
Since the highways upgrade two years ago, the Province has implemented safety parameters.
Rumble strips and flashing red intersection lights and street lights to eliminate the area, have been added to the intersection.
“I know that people in this area, consider it to be a problem,” said Ray Courtman, mayor of Beiseker.
“That intersection has always been a concern. I’ve lived out here for 40 years, when I was a member of the fire department, I remember responding to accidents out there quite frequency.”
While Courtman insists the improvements have helped bring down the number of recorded collisions, there is still more that can be done.
“We would like to see a traffic control system (put in place),” he said. “But we’re pleased we’ve got what safety measures we have (in place currently).”
According to Alberta Transportation, between the years of 2007 to 2011, 22 collision have occurred at the intersection in question.
Ten collision resulted in injuries and 12 resulted in property damage.
However, Sgt. Glenn Demmon of Beiseker’s RCMP detachment said he has attended two collisions in the past month (July) at the intersection in question.
“Pay attention when approaching an intersection, obey traffic signs,” said Demmon.
“There’s traffic control signs directing people to stop or yield. The consequences can be serious or fatal.”
With files from Matt Durnan
