Many Airdrie and area residents were stuck in traffic on July 28 after a vehicle rolled on Highway 2, just north of Calgary.
“We believe that both occupants of the vehicle had fallen asleep,” said Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) Sheriff Jason Graw.
“Witnesses said that no other vehicle was involved in causing the accident.”
When the officers arrived on scene at about 2:30 p.m., they located a Toyota Rav 4, which had rolled over and come to rest on its roof in the southbound lanes of the highway.
At the time of the crash, there were two occupants in the vehicle – a male driver and a female passenger who are both in their 60s from Red Deer.
The driver was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by emergency crews.
He was transported by EMS to hospital in stable condition.
Graw wouldn’t speculate on what charges could be laid but said they could range from failing to remain in a lane to careless driving.
Two-vehicle collision
Another accident on the same day caused further delays on Highway 2.
A 61-year-old Calgary man is facing charges after causing a two-vehicle collision on Highway 2 about four kilometres south of the Acme Road overpass near Crossfield.
Airdrie ITU reports indicated that a black Acura EL was travelling northbound on Highway 2 and attempted a U-turn by pulling into a gravel approach that is designed for highway maintenance vehicles.
“These gravel approaches are designed for snow removal vehicles to use so that they don’t have to go up to the overpasses to turn around,” said Graw.
“These approaches are marked with signs that indicate U-turns aren’t allowed.”
When the driver of the Acura pulled into southbound traffic he was blindsided by a 2001 Dodge Ram truck that was pulling a trailer.
The Dodge collided with a cable barrier that divides northbound and southbound traffic.
There were five occupants in the Dodge truck, two adults and three children, all from Coaldale, AB.
None of the occupants of the truck suffered injuries in the collision.
The driver of the Acura was transported to hospital by ground ambulance and charges are pending against him.
“We will either wait until he’s released from hospital or go down there to talk to him,” said Graw.
“We may or may not charge him with an illegal U-turn but we’ll have to look in to it and he could be facing a range of charges up to careless driving.”
Police are reminding residents to drive with caution this long weekend as there will be more vehicles on local highways.
Police will be conducting traffic safety operations including Alberta Check Stops, and enhanced enforcement at locations throughout the province. RCMP will be focusing on dangerous driving behaviours such as impaired driving, occupant restraints, intersection and distracted driving and speeding.
