A minivan driver who died in a head-on collision with a semi-trailer along Highway 54 near Rge. Rd. 13 just after 4 p.m. May 6 was burned so badly emergency responders couldn't identify the body.
After the van crossed into the left lane the driver of the 2007 Kenworth T800 truck tried unsuccessfully to swerve out of the way, before both vehicles tumbled into the north ditch, setting the dry grass in the surrounding field on fire.
A farmer working nearby attempted to save the driver who was trapped in the overturned van, and when flames got out of control he used his tractor to create a fire barrier by tilling the earth around the burning vehicles.
The temperature hit 29.2 °C and the Innisfail Fire Department was already responding to a grass fire near Spruce View when dispatch sent them to the accident scene.
As they arrived they immediately called for help.
“There was just a lot of smoke and a lot of fire,” said John Syroid, Innisfail's fire chief, of the flames that completely engulfed the two vehicles. “Of course you have to be very cautious because there are flammable liquids.”
Luckily there were no explosions as Bowden and Red Deer County fire departments arrived to help put out the blaze and Innisfail Integrated Traffic officers also attended the scene.
Syroid said the farm equipment was a great tool for attacking the fire.
“It just creates a fire block to get the ground turned up so there's no grass,” he said.
The highway remained closed for several hours while Innisfail RCMP and a Red Deer RCMP collision analyst investigated the incident.
The identity of the driver is not being released pending positive identification from the medical examiner.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk of the Innisfail detachment said the cause of the accident is still under investigation, though alcohol, the roadway and weather conditions have been ruled out as factors in the crash.
