A portion of Highway 44 north of Westlock was closed, and all traffic detoured, for nearly two days after a three-vehicle collision involving a semi truck, farm tractor and pickup truck.
First responders were alerted to the incident and rushed to the scene on Highway 44 near Township Road 614 at the Pibroch Hutterite Colony on Sept. 25 at about 8:30 p.m.
The initial RCMP investigation determined a farm tractor was crossing the highway from the east. A southbound semi tractor with double-tank trailers of liquefied petroleum gas was unable to avoid a collision with the tractor as it entered the highway.
Both the semi and farm tractor hit the west ditch, while a southbound pickup that was behind the semi struck the trailer that remained on the highway.
The driver of the pickup was taken to hospital in Westlock while the driver of the tractor was airlifted by STARS Air Ambulance to Edmonton — both had serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the semi was not injured.
All three drivers involved in the accident are male, but their identities and ages have not been released by the RCMP.
“I can confirm no charges have been laid and the investigation is not complete,” said Cpl. Ronald Bumbry with RCMP media relations, adding evidence from the site is still being analyzed and RCMP collision analysts will determine if any charges are going to be laid.
The tanks containing liquefied petroleum gasses were not punctured or compromised in any way, police added, even after detaching from the truck, skidding down the highway and colliding with the pickup.
The highway was immediately closed and a Hazmat team was called in to empty the tankers before they could be removed.
The highway reopened to traffic Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
