Freezing rain turned highways into skating rinks across the region, leading to a surge of emergency calls from Lloydminster to Edmonton over the past 24 hours.

Multiple fire departments were kept busy overnight responding to rollovers, jackknifed semis and vehicles in the ditch as dangerous conditions took hold.

 

Semi jackknifes and multiple ditch incidents

Vermilion Fire & Rescue handled numerous calls overnight, including several priority incidents.

Crews were first dispatched to assist with a semi-truck that jackknifed near the weigh scales. As conditions worsened, additional calls along Highway 16 forced crews to shift focus to traffic control and road safety in rapidly deteriorating weather.

 

 

Highway 897 closed for hours

Kitscoty and Marwayne Fire Departments worked together on a major incident involving an overturned transport truck hauling wood on Highway 897, just north of Township Road 510.

The crash shut down the highway around 10 p.m., with the scene not fully cleared until approximately 6 a.m. Recovery efforts were carried out by Action Towing & Recovery Service.

 

More incidents pile up through the night

At around 3 a.m., Kitscoty Fire responded to another transport truck in the ditch on Highway 16 west of the Village of Kitscoty. Traffic was reduced to one lane while crews remained on scene until 8 a.m.

Just after 9 a.m., another multi-vehicle collision involving a transport truck, a flat deck trailer and two passenger vehicles occurred east of Kenilworth Lake. Vermilion and Islay Fire crews responded, and the scene has since been cleared.

 

Highways reopen, but caution urged

All affected highways have now reopened, but officials are urging drivers to slow down and adjust to road conditions.

Maintenance crews from the County of Vermilion River and Emcon Services continue sanding and clearing roads.

Officials are also recognizing the efforts of volunteer firefighters, dispatchers, RCMP, peace officers, EMS and road crews who worked through the night to keep the public safe.