A jackknifed semi blocked Highway 5 at approximately 10:20 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 about 10 kilometres south of Barriere, three kilometers north of Fishtrap Canyon.
This notorious stretch of highway is just south of a recent fatal crash involving two vehicles on Dec. 28 that claimed the lives of three people from Valemount.
Elaine Laidlaw, a passenger and resident of Barriere in a pick-up truck, witnessed the scene of the crash.
“It looks as though he was headed south but the truck and trailer spun around facing northbound on the opposite side of the road and coming to rest against the treed slope. You can see where the trees are sheared off and the no post guardrail on the southbound lane was also hit by the trailer when it jackknifed. He’s lucky no one was going northbound when this happened.”
Laidlaw described the road in that area as “icy and compact” although she also said, “in that area is was what I would call at that time as being glare ice.”
Barriere RCMP were on scene shortly after the crash along with Argo Road Maintenance and a local towing company from Barriere.
Cpl. Kyle Camalush confirmed the collision involved one semi truck and trailer.
“A passenger from the semi has been transported to hospital for minor injuries and traffic reopened to alternating [traffic at approximately 12:10 p.m.”
Donny Klienfelder, a tow truck company owner said the truck hit hard.
“It was basically broken in two. It hit hard … the truck is literally bent in two. The passenger is very lucky to only have minor injuries,” said Klienfelder, adding the there was no sand on the highway in that spot and it was icy.
“There was no sand on this road whatsoever when we arrived for recovery. Also there was no winter tread on the tires.”
Highway 5 has been the focus of much concern due to increases in fatalities on that stretch of road, which sees heavy commercial traffic travelling to and from Alberta.
