BARRHEAD - Icy road conditions on Highway 33's approach to the Pembina River Bridge and the bridge itself were the main factors in two motor vehicle accidents during the morning commute on Oct. 28.
This is according to Barrhead RCMP commander Sgt. Collin Hack.
He said the first accident happened at about 7:53 a.m. when a pickup heading northbound on Highway 33 lost control and went into the left side of the ditch just after the bridge.
Hack added the following accident, unrelated to the first, happened a few minutes later, at roughly 8:08 a.m., when two vehicles collided on the bridge.
"There were no injuries but property damage to the vehicles, and we had to close the highway [in both directions] for a little bit to get things cleaned up," he said.
Hack said while no injuries resulted in the accidents, one person was transported via ambulance to the Barrhead Healthcare Centre as a precaution, and two others were given lifts home as their vehicles were not driveable.
He noted that while the highway's condition was good, the temperature was about -2 to -3 C, enough to "frost the bridge over," making its surface extremely slick.
"We had highway services [LaPrairie Works] salt and sand that bridge down, but it was super slick this morning," he said.
Hack added that as temperatures continue to drop as winter approaches, drivers must be conscious of the potential for adverse road conditions and adjust their driving accordingly.
