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Last updated on October 7th, 2024 at 02:44 am
Trans-Canada Highway Crash: What You Need to Know
A section of the Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry, Manitoba, was closed on Thursday afternoon following a serious collision that involved multiple vehicles and resulted in several injuries.
According to Manitoba RCMP, the crash occurred around 1 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 5, just north of Carberry, a town located about 170 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
.jpg "Trans-Canada Highway Closed Due To Serious Crash Involving Multiple Vehicles")
Police said the collision was “very serious” and asked drivers to avoid the area and yield to emergency vehicles. Highway closures were in effect for several hours as investigators examined the scene.
STARS air ambulances from Regina and Winnipeg were dispatched to the area to transport some of the injured people to hospital. The extent of their injuries and their current condition are not known at this time.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but witnesses told CTV News that it appeared to involve a semi-trailer truck and at least two other vehicles.
One witness said he saw a car that was “completely crushed” by the truck and another vehicle that was “flipped over” on the side of the road.
He said he also saw people lying on the ground and being attended by paramedics.
“It was pretty shocking,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Another witness said he heard a loud bang and saw smoke coming from the scene.
He said he stopped his car and tried to help some of the victims until emergency crews arrived.
“I just wanted to do what I could,” he said. “It was very scary.”
The Trans-Canada Highway is a major route that connects Manitoba with other provinces and territories.
It is also a busy corridor for commercial traffic and tourism.
The highway reopened around 6 p.m., but police advised drivers to expect delays and exercise caution in the area.
A hopeful outlook
While the collision was tragic and devastating for those involved and their families, there is also a hopeful outlook for the future of road safety in Manitoba.
The province has been implementing various measures to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, such as increasing fines for distracted driving, installing more rumble strips and guardrails, and improving road design and maintenance.
According to Manitoba Public Insurance, there were 71 fatal collisions on Manitoba roads in 2022, down from 75 in 2021 and 86 in 2020.
The province also has a Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
The strategy is based on the principle that human life and health are paramount and that no one should die or be seriously injured as a result of a road crash.
The strategy involves collaboration among various stakeholders, such as government agencies, law enforcement, health care providers, community groups, and road users themselves.
Some of the actions that are part of the strategy include enhancing education and awareness campaigns, enforcing traffic laws, promoting safe driving behaviours, supporting vulnerable road users, and adopting new technologies and innovations.
By working together, Manitobans can make their roads safer for everyone and prevent tragedies like the one that occurred near Carberry from happening again.
