More than 12 cars involved in snowy pileup east of Calgary
The first significant snowfall of the season in the Calgary area is causing accidents, delays, and at least one major pileup in the region.
Alberta RCMP reported Monday morning that multiple detachments from areas east of Calgary responded to a Highway 1 pileup. RCMP say the accident, which occurred between Highway 842 and Highway 56, involved at least 12 vehicles.
As of late morning Monday, the RCMP had not provided any details about injuries but were advising drivers to avoid the area if possible. Just before noon, they advised that delays between two and three hours were still expected.
“We turned around and went to the other side and went another route. And so did many others,” said Summer Blossom, who had to reroute off the highway to get to an appointment at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
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“Near to the accident, you couldn't move.”
Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a snowfall warning Monday morning after a weak, compact low-pressure system developed in Alberta overnight.
10 to 15 centimetres of wet, heavy snow is expected to fall in the Calgary area, with higher totals possible west of the city.
Heavy snow fell over Calgary, Alta., early Monday, causing multiple collisions and traffic delays. (Connor O'Donovan/TWN)
Traffic sources, including 511 Alberta, were reporting collisions in Calgary throughout the morning, including on Stoney Trail near Country Hills Boulevard. Okotoks RCMP, meanwhile, asked drivers to avoid travel on Highway 2 just south of Calgary in the Bow River valley as multiple vehicles spun out on the hill south of the river, blocking lanes in both directions.
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Between midnight and noon Monday, Calgary police say they’d already responded to 117 non-injury collisions, 12 collisions causing an injury, and 12 hit-and-run collisions, including two that caused injuries.
The snowfall has had other impacts too.
The Siksika Board of Education announced all Siksika schools would be closed Monday due to the snowfall and road conditions. The city of Calgary, meanwhile, had several bus routes operating on snow detours Monday afternoon as snow continued to fall.
Header image submitted by Summer Blossom.
