4 injured in chain-reaction crash on QEII as driving conditions deteriorate
Posted Feb 17, 2026 3:31 pm.
Last Updated Feb 17, 2026 7:11 pm.
A growing pileup on the QEII north of Calgary forced the RCMP to temporarily close the southbound lanes Tuesday afternoon, as blowing snow and slick pavement triggered multiple collisions along the highway.
RCMP say a crash just south of Highway 582 near Didsbury around 1:30 p.m. quickly escalated with additional vehicles sliding into the scene because of poor driving conditions.
Paramedics say four people have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
One southbound lane of the highway reopened around 4 p.m. and all lanes cleared just before 5 p.m.
Further north, RCMP have issued a tow‑ban along the QEII from just north of Red Deer all the way to Edmonton. That means drivers who end up in the ditch will not be able to get tow truck assistance until conditions improve.
Motorists are being advised to delay travel, monitor updates, and use extreme caution if they must be on the roads.
A winter storm warning is in effect for southern Alberta on Tuesday, as Environment Canada warns of hazardous conditions with 15-25 centimetres of snow expected. Meteorologists say the snow will taper off late Tuesday.
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