EDMONTON – The situation on Edmonton roads improved overnight after Monday’s wintry weather, Edmonton police said.
After issuing a warning to Edmonton drivers because of icy conditions in and around the city Monday night, police said the number of collisions dropped Tuesday morning because of graders spreading sand and gravel, drivers adjusting to the conditions, and the typical reduction in nighttime traffic.
There were a total of 124 property damage crashes and nine injury collisions during a 24–hour period starting early Monday morning. From 4 p.m. to midnight Monday, there were 61 property damage collisions and five injury collisions reported to police.
None of the injury collisions were life threatening, police said.
Police said the western leg of Anthony Henday Drive appeared to be the worst stretch of road. Officers were called to at least eight collisions there and while none of them were too serious, two people were taken to hospital as a precaution. Police also said several of the crashes involved vehicles sliding into other vehicles that had crashed.
EPS told Global News that most collisions appeared to have occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. when the temperature dropped.
Conditions were treacherous outside of the capital region. RCMP warned drivers to travel with extreme caution on Highway 2 between Red Deer and Wetaskiwin Monday evening because of freezing conditions.
READ MORE: Snowfall warning for communities surrounding Edmonton
Meanwhile, to the west of Edmonton, RCMP were called to investigate after a fire truck rolled over on Highway 16 between Edmonton and Acheson. Police did not say whether road conditions or weather played a role in the crash.
Mounties said none of the six people travelling in the fire truck suffered any serious injuries.
The Alberta Motor Association road report co–ordinator Terry Clovechok said Edmonton drivers should expect their commutes to take longer on Tuesday morning and that they should refrain from speeding or following other vehicles too closely.