RED DEER COUNTY - There were nearly 150 reported collisions across Alberta between Thursday at noon and Friday morning with more expected as bad weather caused treacherous driving conditions.
Much of the province was under some kind of weather warning Jan. 17 including for blowing snow, snowfall, snow squalls, freezing rain and wind.
An Alberta emergency alert was issued for parts of central and northern Alberta Thursday night warning of hazardous road conditions northeast, south and southeast of Edmonton including as far south as Red Deer County.
“Severe winter weather conditions for areas northeast and south of Edmonton are impacting travel. Heavy snow and strong winds are causing dangerous driving conditions with zero visibility,” the Thursday alert said. “Area highways and roads may be closed without notice.”
At 8:10 p.m. Alberta 511 advised that Leduc RCMP issued a tow ban for the area due to tow trucks retrieving vehicles from the ditch. The ban was lifted around 6 a.m. Friday.
RCMP responded to numerous reports of motor vehicle collisions all over the province, the majority in central Alberta, police said in a press release issued Friday morning.
From 12 p.m. on Jan. 16 to 8 a.m. on Jan. 17, RCMP received the following reports of collisions:
• Eastern Alberta District: 28 reported collisions (all property damage)
• Southern Alberta District: 24 reported collision (one injury, 23 property damage)
• Western Alberta District: 26 reported collisions (two injury, 24 property damage)
Some RCMP detachments in central Alberta began advising against travel around 7 p.m. Thursday night.
“RCMP is stressing that when it is advised to not travel, please take this advice,” police said Friday. “You are not only putting your own life at risk, but also risking other lives, including all first responders. Please drive responsibly and safely.
