Two vehicles collided at the bottom of the east hill in Athabasca at approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday as traffic attempted to navigate around a semi truck stopped at the side of Highway 55 eastbound.
Two vehicles collided at the bottom of the east hill in Athabasca at approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday as traffic attempted to navigate around a semi truck stopped at the side of Highway 55 eastbound.
A light coloured sedan traveling eastbound entered the westbound lane in an attempt to circumnavigate the truck when it was hit by an oncoming Ford pickup truck, according to RCMP Cst. Morgan Kay on scene. The constable said the head-on collision appeared to be "indirectly" caused by the truck partially obstructing eastbound traffic from getting up the hill.
The impact sent the sedan part way into the eastbound ditch behind the semi truck. RCMP received word at approximately 5:20 p.m. that a semi tanker truck had lost traction trying to climb the hill, had spun out and was sitting on the hard shoulder. The sedan also collided with the semi truck, according to the truck driver as he worked to chain up his tires.
The truck driver reported to RCMP that he was uninjured and awaiting delivery of sand to help increase road traction around his vehicle. Steve's Towing arrived within the hour and the sedan was cleared from the ditch by 6:30 p.m. and traffic continued to be redirected around the semi truck while the driver worked to get moving again. No injuries resulted from the accident, according to Kay.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
