1 dead, four seriously injured in havoc on QEII Highway

One man is dead, and four others are seriously injured after a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 2 just south of Highway 27 near Olds Friday.

In an update late Friday, Alberta RCMP says a 58-year-old man from Fort Saskatchewan was killed.

EMS tells CityNews paramedics responded to the area just before 9 a.m. for an incident involving multiple vehicles, killing one person and leaving others with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

Those injured were taken to various hospitals by ambulance.

RCMP have been advising drivers to stay off the QEII Highway since early Friday morning.

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Mounties said at the time it’s been especially bad between Airdrie and Red Deer, with thick ice on the roads and fog in the area, making the situation worse.

RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney tells CityNews traffic hit a standstill in several areas.

“I just spoke to an officer who’s on scene at numerous collisions involving jack-knifed semis, maybe about 10 jack-knifed semis between Didsbury and Olds,” she explained. “The majority of collisions are in the southbound lanes between Didsbury and Olds, but there are some in the northbound lanes as well.

“Traffic is at a standstill, no traffic can get through the area at this time.”

She says area detachments called for support, and even asked off-duty police officers to help, as emergency crews dealt with the many collisions.

“So the detachment commander for Olds who I just spoke to said that he’s calling in support — any member that he can — members that are on their days off,” Slaney said. “He’s making those phone calls now to get support and help.

“We can draw from detachments, I’m sure Airdrie will send some members up to assist,” she added. “As well we’ll ask for assistance from the province because ultimately, the province would be responsible for closing the highway.”

Drivers were advised to stay off the area highways due to the conditions, with Mounties declaring the roads opened in both directions at around 11 a.m.

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