Severe winter weather results in multiple vehicle collisions

LEDUC -- It was a busy day for RCMP as several vehicle collisions were reported in the Leduc area.

This comes as a severe winter storm pummeled the region throughout the day on Wednesday, Dec. 17. This included heavy, blowing snow, combined with strong gusts of wind of up to 60 km/h, along with whiteout conditions in several areas. This resulted in near zero visibility during portions of the mid-morning and early afternoon.

Leduc RCMP Constable Lindsay McNab says the QEII was particularly treacherous for much of the day, while no areas of the region were spared from the difficult conditions. Speaking to 93.1 The One, she asks residents to avoid unnecessary travel during extreme weather conditions.

"If you do need to be out for whatever reason, allow more time to get where you're going," said Cst. McNab. "Make sure you're giving yourself a lot of time and distance between other vehicles in the event you have to stop quickly, or if visibility isn't great because of all the snow." 

Cst. McNab says that by 1:00 p.m. a high volume of vehicle collisions had been reported, however, she noted that by that point in the day there had been no serious injuries in the Leduc area as a result of any of the crashes.

It was much of the same in other areas of the province, as further down the QEII a multiple vehicle pileup was reported between Calgary and Airdrie, as police urged residents to stay home. Footage of the conditions shows the highway barely visible due to heavy blowing snowfall.

"If your vehicle is stuck off the highway in a whiteout, it is safest to stay in your vehicle with your seat belt and hazard lights on," said Cst. McNab. "Avoid running the vehicle if for some reason the exhaust cannot evacuate into open air."

To best prepare for poor conditions in the future, RCMP asks drivers to always keep up with maintenance on your vehicle. Ensure you have appropriate tires for winter travel, a full tank of fuel, and that all preventative maintenance is up to date.

If possible, make sure you have a cellphone and charger with you to call for assistance if necessary.