Charges are pending following a head-on collision last Tuesday night west of town that sent four people to hospital.
Westlock RCMP Cpl. Lee Grieco-Savoy said in a media release that there was a head-on collision on Highway 18 near the golf course turnoff around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, when a westbound Chevrolet Impala hit an eastbound Pontiac Montana.
“The westbound vehicle attempted to pass another vehicle before losing control and striking the eastbound van,” she said.
The drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospitals in Edmonton for treatment, and are both expected to recover from their injuries. Two passengers in the eastbound van were treated and released from the Westlock hospital.
The investigation into this collision is ongoing, and charges are pending. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor, but conditions were very icy at the time due to freezing rain.
Westlock fire chief Stuart Koflick said the rescue operation went smoothly, thanks in no small part to cooperation between several agencies — the Westlock Fire Department, Westlock County Fire Department and EMS.
Upon arriving on scene, firefighters determined there were occupants in both vehicles who were trapped, so they mounted two simultaneous rescue operations.
This was made possible because the Westlock Fire Rescue Association, the not-for-profit fundraising arm of the fire department, purchased a new set of hydraulic rescue tools several years ago and kept the old set, as well.
“If we had one set of tools we would have most likely been all right,” Koflick said. “But this way, everything went very smooth and it was advantageous to have both sets of tools.”
While the Westlock firefighters are the ones trained on actually using the tools, Koflick said mutual aid from the county department was in this case as in others a great benefit to the operation.
“With the size of the scene and the different operations going on, they were an integral part of the operation,” he said.
The county’s vehicles typically don’t have the same calibre of rescue tools on them, but the county’s departments are nonetheless called out to motor vehicle collision calls as they can often arrive sooner and provide reports on the situation — either telling the Westlock members to stand down or reporting what to expect when they arrive on scene.
This is especially important near the outskirts of the county, when it could take Westlock members a half hour to arrive.
“We work very well together and we keep open communication with all stakeholders so we can maintain emergency response in other areas if required,” Koflick said. “It’s a good system we have, and it seems to be working well.”
This was the second significant freezing rain event in the Westlock area in as many weeks — freezing rain on Jan. 21 prompted Westlock and Barrhead RCMP to issue a media release cautioning drivers of the treacherous conditions.
Grieco-Savoy said the best advice for motorists considering heading out on the highways in adverse conditions like freezing rain is simply to avoid it if possible — but she acknowledged that’s not always possible.
“If you have to get there, then obviously drive slowly and with care,” she said. “Give yourself sufficient braking distance, knowing you’ll need more time and greater distance to stop.”
