A semi truck driver was taken to hospital in Red Deer with broken ribs and other injuries on Thursday evening after his rig crashed through a guardrail on a Hwy 2 overpass, crossed four lanes of traffic and slammed into a grassy embankment.
The collision happened about 7:15 p.m. when the driver of the northbound semi lost control, went through the guardrail and down an embankment onto Taylor Drive. The truck avoided hitting any other vehicles and cleared the centre median before slamming into an embankment on the other side.
The front end of the truck, which was pulling a large empty trailer, was badly damaged, its front wheels ripped off by the impact. The 49-year-old male driver from Lac La Biche was taken to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, where he was listed in stable condition on Thursday night. Besides his rib injuries, he suffered from cuts and scrapes.
Hwy 2A north of Gasoline Alley and south of 19th Street was closed for several hours while emergency crews cleaned up the mess.
RCMP from Red Deer and Innisfail’s Hwy 2 Integrated Traffic Services and Red Deer Emergency Services responded to the collision.
Alcohol and speed are not believed to have been factors in the accident, which is still under investigation.
— copyright Red Deer Advocate