One person is dead after a fatal head-on collision on Highway 63 early Thursday morning, involving a semi tractor trailer and a passenger car.
The adult male driver of the car was declared dead on scene, approximately 5 km north of the Atmore junction.
At approximately 1:50 a.m., a northbound car crossed the centre line and struck the oncoming southbound tractor trailer. The truck caught fire but the 38-year-old driver was able to escape uninjured, and was treated on scene.
Grassland Fire Department was the first to arrive on scene, followed closely by Boyle RCMP, Boyle Associated Ambulance, and Highway 63 First Responders out of Wandering River.
Part of Highway 63 was closed off and remained closed until approximately 8:25 a.m.
"The collision has resulted in traffic being rerouted on Highway 63. Flagging crews are detouring traffic at the Highway 63/55 junction and at the Highway 63/Al-Pac bypass road intersection," stated Boyle RCMP Cpl. John Spaans in a press release.
The truck was carrying two van trailers, at least one of which was carrying empty barrels with traces of an acidic material similar in properties to battery acid, prompting emergency personnel to take full precautions, according to Spaans.
As a result, fire crews spent more than an hour securing the scene. After flames were subdued, police took no chances with smoke on scene because of the nature of the materials in the burning vehicle.
The cause of the accident is still unknown.
"Frankly, in this case it would all be speculation, but that was our thought is fatigue or inattention, who knows," said Spaans. "Frankly, we may never know.
Road conditions were clear and visibility was good at the time, and alcohol was not believed to a factor, said Spaans.
"It just appeared as though the small car crossed the centre line," he said, although the collision analyst from Sherwood Park is still working to determine the cause of the incident. "Speed has not been ruled out as a factor," he said.
The name and age of the deceased have not been released pending identification of the body, as well notification of next of kin, but RCMP confirm the victim was from out of province.
