Nearly a dozen vehicles slid off Highway 18 east of Clyde last Wednesday, prompting Westlock RCMP to shut down a section of the highway for a few hours in the morning.
Westlock RCMP got several reports of vehicles in the ditch, including a few semi-trucks, one of which had jackknifed as a result of the slick road surface.
“I’ve been here three years, and this is the first time I’ve had to shut down a road because of conditions,” said RCMP Const. Michael Zufferli.
Residents of the region awoke that morning to rainfall, which in especially cool weather, can make for a deadly combination. The surface of the highway was so slippery, in fact, that vehicles barely had to be moving to slide.
Robert Schaller, who was driving a semi with heavy equipment on it, said he could see how slick the roads were and was driving at only 10 mph, but nonetheless slid off the road.
“The icy surface and the curve of the road was enough to throw you in the ditch,” he said.
While he was stuck and waiting for a tow truck, he said he saw several other vehicles lose control and slide into the ditch, including some other semi trailers.
“One was jackknifed, the other was in the ditch,” Schaller said.
Fortunately, nobody was injured as a result of the road conditions.
However, the highway was closed for several hours, long enough for a sanding truck to cover the portion of affected highway.
Zufferli had to turn several vehicles back toward Clyde, but said nobody seemed too upset by the closure and everyone was cooperative with police.
“Everyone’s pretty understanding,” he said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think everyone understands the danger of driving on icy roads.”
