Chain-reaction crash near Cochrane turns deadly after vehicle pushed into oncoming traffic

A major crash near Cochrane Wednesday morning killed one man and sent five other people, including two toddlers, to hospital.

RCMP say a line of vehicles had stopped, waiting for somebody to turn off the highway, when somebody rear-ended the car at the back, causing a chain-reaction crash involving five vehicles.

Sergeant Dave Hardy, with the Cochrane Integrated Traffic Unit, told City News what happened next:

“One of the vehicles entered into the oncoming lane for northbound traffic on Highway-22 and was struck by a northbound vehicle,” Hardy said. “The driver of the vehicle that went into the oncoming lane is deceased.”

There were seven people assessed by Calgary EMS, five of whom were transported to hospital:

· An adult male, determined deceased on scene.

· Man, mid-20’s, stable, non-life-threatening, transported to the Foothills Medical Centre.

· Man, early 70’s, stable, non-life-threatening, transported to the Foothills Medical Centre.

· Woman, early 30’s, stable, non-life-threatening, * transported to the Alberta Children’s Hospital for precautionary assessment, with her children (below).

· Two toddlers, stable, non-life-threatening, both transported to the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

· Man, early 60’s, assessed by paramedics, but not transported – uninjured.