Chaotic evening for Emergency Services

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

On Sunday evening, February 17 Pincher Creek Emergency Services responded to multiple incidents on area highways, which resulted in injuries to civilians in two incidents and Emergency Services personnel in one incident.

According to Emergency Services Chief Dave Cox, the first call came in around 5:30 pm.  At that time Emergency Services responded to a single vehicle rollover on Highway 22 about one mile north of the Highway 3 junction.  Lundbreck Station, Pincher Station, 1 ambulance, and Chief Cox responded to that accident, which resulted in the single occupant of the vehicle being transported to Pincher Creek hospital with minor injuries.

Enroute back to Pincher Creek, the rescue truck came upon a single vehicle accident involving a semi-truck in the coulees east of Cowley on Highway 3.  Emergency Services set up a traffic warning on the east side of the coulees with personnel performing flagging duties.   According to Chief Cox, during that situation a tow truck was parked on the shoulder of the highway next to the eastbound lane at a highly visible area at the top of the hill, where the highway is 3 lanes wide.  A car travelling westbound lost control and spun sideways across the highway, striking the tow truck and driving it backwards an estimated 6 to 8 feet.  Two Emergency Services personnel were on the ditch side and to the rear of the tow truck at the time of the collision and received minor injuries as a result of the collision. 

Responding to that incident were Lundbreck Station, two ambulances from Pincher Creek, 2 units from Cowley, more members from Pincher Creek to reinforce the members on scene and an ambulance from Peigan Ambulance.*

The passenger side of the car was extensively damaged.  In total 2 people were transported to Pincher Creek Hospital with serious injuries and 4 people were transported with minor injuries, including the Emergency Services personnel.

Chief Cox said the Emergency Services personnel were bruised and shaken up, but were probably quite lucky to have the tow truck between them and the out-of-control car.

In response to that incident RCMP closed that portion of Highway 3 down until the situation was under control.  An RCMP vehicle was also rear ended near Cowley during that time, with no significant injuries reported.

Chief Cox said the road conditions were "perfect" for building ice, with wet heavy snow turning to ice as soon as people drove on it.  However, visibility was quite good approaching the scene of the accident involving Emergency Services workers.

*updated to reflect the assistance of Cowley fire