No one was injured in a chain-reaction collision that occurred after a semi jack-knifed on Hwy 2 south of Bowden early Monday afternoon.
The southbound lanes of Hwy 2 were closed for more than two hours, but reopened just after 3 p.m.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation but poor visibility and motorists driving too fast for the road conditions were factors, said Const. Christopher Warren with Innisfail RCMP.
The accident involved at least five other vehicles in addition to the semi.
“It was lucky that no injuries were sustained during this collision considering the poor visibility and how fast people continued to travel despite the poor conditions,” Warren said.
Only one motorist was charged with driving too fast for road conditions but Warren said there is always the possibility that more charges could be laid as the investigation continues.
Emergency crews shut down the southbound lanes of Hwy 2 at the Hwy 2A exit between Bowden and Olds.
A few of the vehicles involved were written off and had to be towed from the scene.
Olds RCMP, Innisfail RCMP, Innisfail Integrated Traffic Services, Red Deer County Patrol, Olds Fire, Bowden Fire, Olds EMS and Alberta Highways all responded to the collision.
Police were not recommending travel along Hwy 2 from Red Deer to Didsbury on Monday due to poor driving conditions that included blowing snow and zero visibility.
Warren asked all drivers to travel with caution and slow down.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com