A nasty collision on Jan. 16 slowed northbound traffic on Highway 2.
At 9:20 a.m., a tractor-trailer driver attempted to make a U-turn on a gravel median two kilometres south of the Highway 72 overpass. At the same time, a 32-year-old driver of a Toyota Tundra was unable to stop when the semi truck began turning and struck the tractor-trailer.
The front end of the pick-up truck folded and the driver, a Calgary resident, was reported in stable condition and later taken to hospital for his injuries.
The 24-year-old semi truck driver, a Winnipeg man, was uninjured. Now, he is charged with careless driving, failing to maintain a logbook and failing to complete a pre-trip inspection of his rig. Speed, alcohol and road conditions are not suspected to be factors, according to RCMP.
“The sole cause of this collision was the decision on the part of the semi driver to attempt to make a U-turn on the highway,” said Sheriff Jason Graw of the Airdrie RCMP.
“Highway 2 is divided by a median and the only safe and legal way to turn around and go the other way is to exit at an overpass. The gravel crossovers between the north and southbound lanes are for emergency and maintenance vehicle use only.”
Crossing over the median is a $172 ticket under the Traffic Safety Act.
A person has died from injuries after a semi truck rolled over north of Airdrie, Jan. 17.
Emergency crews responded at 8:38 p.m. and worked to extricate the driver from the wreckage. However, the individual died on scene. There were no other people in the cab.
Police are not releasing details of the driver pending notification of next of kin.
Northbound lanes were closed for more than one hour. The accident is under investigation, but RCMP said alcohol and speed were not factors in the collision.
“Police wish to remind motorists that with the recent change in the weather, winter driving conditions exist on highways in Alberta,” said Cpl. Darrin Turnbull of the Airdrie RCMP. “Motorists are reminded to slow down, give more time and distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, ensure you have good quality winter tires and a winter emergency survival kit with you in case you become stranded.”
Between 4:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, a woman had her wallet stolen out of her purse in CrossIron Mills mall.
The woman was sitting in a coffee shop when the theft occurred. She later realized her wallet was missing and phoned her credit card company to alert them. However, thieves had already made multiple purchases.
At 4:44 p.m., thieves made two transactions at the Shell Gas station on Main Street in Airdrie. Twenty minutes later, they went across the street to Fas Gas and made a third transaction.
Suspects then travelled to Calgary to make additional purchases, but by that time the cards were cancelled.
The first suspect is described as a non-white female, 5’6”, thin to average build, shoulder length brown hair and was wearing a white jacket, white shirt and blue jeans.
The second suspect is described as an Arabic man with a short buzz cut with a receding hairline.
Airdrie RCMP responded to a New Year’s Eve complaint about liquor being stolen from the Co-op Liquor Store at 7 p.m. Witnesses told police they saw two men enter the store, pick up two full boxes of liquor and walk out the door. The stolen alcohol is worth $1,320. The two thefts occurred within five minutes of each other and police suspect the men know each other. The first suspect is described as 40 years old, Caucasian, blond hair, 5’10” tall and about 150 pounds. The second suspect is described as 30 years old, Caucasian, six feet tall and about 160 pounds with dark hair.
If you have information on any unsolved crime, contact the Airdrie RCMP at 403-945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
