Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Crash blocks highway for hours

Two semi-trailers, fire truck wrecked

By: Carol Sanders

Posted: 09/7/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

RCMP investigators inspect the aftermath of a collision between two tractor-trailers along the Trans-Canada Highway Thursday. One semi driver was critically injured. (PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

ST. FRANÇOIS XAVIER -- Two semis and a fire truck were wrecked in a hair-raising crash for emergency workers that left one man in critical condition in hospital and slowed traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway to a crawl for hours.

The collision happened after a semi-trailer unit stopped at the side of the highway near St. François Xavier at about 1:30 p.m. The driver contacted emergency officials because the tractor was leaking diesel fuel onto Highway 1 near the junction of Highway 26. St. François Xavier fire department and RCMP at Headingley closed one of the eastbound lanes to allow for the cleanup.

About 45 minutes later, an eastbound semi with an empty livestock trailer collided with the fire tanker truck that was stopped at the scene, lost control and hit the back end of the semi-trailer.

The first semi jack-knifed, and the cab was demolished. The driver, a 29-year-old man from Steinbach, was airlifted to hospital and was in critical but stable condition late Thursday.

The driver of the semi that was hit, a 65-year-old Ontario man, was not injured.

Two volunteer firefighters and an RCMP officer were thrown to the ground by the force of the collision. They suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

An off-duty paramedic stopped at the scene and provided care to the driver of the semi from Steinbach.

An RCMP traffic reconstructionist was at the scene assisting with the investigation Thursday. Traffic slowed to a crawl past the wreckage, with two of the four lanes closed on the Trans-Canada Highway for several hours.

St. François Xavier Reeve Roger Poitras heard the collision and was at the scene.

"I can't understand it," said Poitras. "They were all parked with the (traffic) cones put out."

Bystanders and police were left trying to figure out why the semi driver didn't see the scene ahead and respond.

"They had everything under control and then this happened out of the blue -- for whatever reason," said Poitras.

He said he was upset because the volunteer firefighters and police were at the scene doing their jobs and could've been badly hurt or killed.

"It could've been very serious."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 7, 2012 A3

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.