Seven dead in head-on collision near Fort McMurray
Fatal accident on “Highway of Death”
Six people dead in fiery collision near Fort McMurray
Boyle and Wood Buffalo RCMP are describing a two-vehicle head on collision near Fort McMurray as “horrific”.
The accident that claimed the lives of seven people occurred on Highway 63, at the 88 Km marker. Three people were air lifted to Edmonton-area hospitals and listed in critical or serious condition. One of the victims flown to Edmonton, a teenage girl, has since died from her injuries.
Details into the victims are scant. Constable Christina Wilkins of the Wood Buffalo RCMP says that the injured are a 34-year old man, a teenage girl and a young boy. At this time, classification of their injuries is not known.
Police believe that a northbound vehicle pulled out to pass another vehicle and it collided with a southbound vehicle carrying six people.
Constable Wilkins says that after the collision, there was “a significant fire as a result of the impact”.
Two of the dead were in the northbound truck along with the injured teenage girl. The girl was pulled from the burning truck by passing motorists before emergency crews arrived at the scene.
Highway 63 has been shut down until further notice so that RCMP and other emergency services can continue to investigate the crash. Traffic is being re-routed via Secondary Highway 881.
Constable Wilkins adds “Motorists are reminded to be careful when traveling south of Fort McMurray as the weather and road conditions remain unfavourable”.
RCMP will release more information as it becomes available.
Category: Alberta
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Bad road,bad drivers and next to no enforcement.
Terrible tragedy but hardly a surprise on #63.