WINNIPEG — Ice and snow hit Winnipeg hard Thursday causing traffic chaos.
Two semis and a cube van were involved in a crash on the west perimeter near Wilkes Ave around 11:30 a.m. A tow truck driver and a witness told Global News it appeared no one was hurt, adding there were white out conditions at the time.
READ MORE: Before and after: Winnipeg’s first snowfall this winter
At times, visibility was near zero in the outskirts of the city. “Speed limits are set for prefect driving conditions. This is definitely not the case today,” Sgt. Bert Paquet with the RCMP said.
Highway 1 was closed west of the city to Portage la Prairie in both directions causing major delays for truck drivers. Highway 1 was also closed earlier in the day near the Ontario border after two semis collided.
READ MORE: Winnipeg transit users calling for more bus shelters as snow arrives
Earlier in the morning, lights were flashing on St. Mary’s Road at Vivian Ave, a vehicle flipped on the Westbound South Perimeter just past the Pembina overpass, and a pedestrian was hit around 7:50 a.m. Thursday on St. Mary’s Road and Lennox Ave.
There were also reports of a vehicle on it’s side near the floodway and Highway 59 around 6:30 a.m.
At least one vehicle was tied up on a median in south Winnipeg, on St. Mary’s Road.
The slippery roads were acting as reminder for drivers to get their winter tires installed on their vehicles.
One shop on St. James Street said customers were waiting for five hours to get their snow tires put on.
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