What could have been a horrific high-speed highway accident near Bowden resulted in no fatalities or any series injuries.
“It could have been a real bad accident,” said John Syroid, fire chief of the Innisfail Fire Department, who sent out a command truck and a pumper truck to the scene. “It's amazing that nobody was hurt.
Police received a call at around 8:35 a.m. on Aug. 29 regarding a traffic collision that occurred on QE2, just north of Bowden.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Myles Hayden said the accident occurred after a pick-up truck travelling southbound crashed into a warning sign vehicle also heading southbound.
He said the warning sign vehicle was escorting a paint truck that was painting lines on the highway. It was travelling with a big flashing arrow directing traffic travelling behind to pull over to the left lane to pass, said Hayden.
Traffic from QE2 Highway was redirected to Highway 2A for about an hour after the collision, he said.
Hayden said the warning vehicle had an impact bar and was therefore not damaged; yet the impact bar was destroyed. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
“Both drivers were very lucky,” said Hayden. “It could've ended badly.”
Hayden said the pickup truck was “completely and utterly damaged,” yet remarkably, the driver, a 29- year-old from Edmonton, received only minor injuries.
Speed is believed to be a factor.
Hayden said police are currently looking into charges against the Edmonton man.
