Highway 16 lanes closed for hours after crash
A 44-year-old man from Spruce Grove was killed early Thursday after his SUV collided with a scissor-lift work platform in a construction zone on westbound Highway 16, west of Edmonton.
A grey Dodge Durango struck the scissor lift at the intersection of Highway 16 and Highway 60 shortly before 3 a.m. Parkland County RCMP responded to the scene near Acheson. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A construction worker in the bucket of the scissor lift was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Parkland County RCMP said the collision occurred at approximately 2:42 a.m., according to CityNews. The westbound right lane had been closed for construction work on the Highway 60 Bridge overpass at the time of the crash, CTV News reported. The 17-tonne lift was positioned behind pylons and barricades. Debris from the SUV, including its engine, was scattered across the scene and into the eastbound lanes.
Both westbound and eastbound lanes of Highway 16 were closed, with motorists rerouted onto Highway 60.
Cpl. Cuneyt Zanbak of Parkland RCMP said investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash.
“It could be that the driver may not have seen the lift at the time, saw the lift at the last moment, tried to make some corrective actions,” he told CTV News Edmonton.
Investigators will reconstruct the scene to determine whether alcohol, distracted driving, or speed were factors, according to CTV News.
Alberta’s Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration confirmed that Occupational Health and Safety is investigating the incident, CTV News reported.
In a statement to CTV News, Alberta transportation minister Devin Dreeshen said: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. This incident is a stark reminder of why drivers must slow down and stay alert in construction zones. … With hundreds of projects underway this season, we’re urging Albertans to follow posted speeds, watch for workers and equipment, and do their part to help everyone get home safely.”
