Big rig blown off Trans-Canada Highway in notoriously windy area of Newfoundland

<p>PORT AUX BASQUES, – Police in southwestern Newfoundland say winds gusting over 100 kilometres an hour on Thursday blew a tractor-trailer off the Trans-Canada Highway.</p> <p>RCMP Const. Shawn Skinner said the trailer was empty when the big rig went into the ditch around 10 a.m. in what’s known as the Wreckhouse area.</p> <p>The driver escaped injury.</p> <p>”He described it to me that his trailer was actually lifted in the air and thrown in the ditch,” Skinner said in an interview.</p> <p>The truck was en route to Port aux Basques at the time of the accident.</p> <p>The extremely strong winds are legendary in the province, with Environment Canada issuing regular warnings.</p> <p>Skinner said he’s aware of Wreckhouse winds gusting in the range of 180 km/h.</p> <p>”When I was out there this morning you could barely get your door open out there,” he said.</p> <p>”If you opened your door the wrong way it would probably come off the hinge.”</p>