Flurry of crashes with first blizzard of year (VIDEO)

Const. Doug Dewar, an Innisfail Integrated Traffic RCMP member, was travelling north up Antler Hill when he noticed a white pickup pulling out to pass a semi-trailer ahead of him.

The truck's back wheels slid out, hitting the snowy left shoulder, before overcorrecting which sent the vehicle tumbling over the guardrail on the right-hand side of the road.

After Dewar attended to the rolled vehicle, the driver was rushed to hospital. He had been wearing a seatbelt and walked away unscathed, but police are reminding motorists to up their caution level with the onslaught of winter.

"People are driving too fast for road conditions," said Innisfail Integrated Traffic Corporal Al Nickolson. "It's a standard thing in Alberta. It was the first snowstorm. We're always going to have crashes."

From the time the first flakes started falling through the course of Oct. 23, Innisfail RCMP were alerted to 18 motor vehicle collisions. No fatalities were reported, although some occupants sustained minor injuries and broken bones.

Nickolson says just because the speed limit is 110 km/h doesn't mean that would be considered the legal maximum during poor road conditions.

"If the appropriate speed is 50 km/h but you're driving at the posted 110 km/h you could get a ticket for speeding," he said.

The Innisfail Fire Department responded to four incidents relating to the initial snowstorm last week.

"We get called out if it's anything serious, if there's anything that needs to be done in terms of extrication," said Innisfail Fire Chief John Syroid. "Innisfail Fire Department is always willing to help out and get out on the highway and respond when necessary."

Syroid cautions motorists not to use cruise control during poor road conditions, because it can cause tires to spin out of control.

"Antler Hill is especially bad," he said. "If there's any ice anywhere it's usually on the hill."

Antler Hill Car Crash from Mountain View Publishing on Vimeo.