For the past 20 years Clarence Hilliar has been a constant behind the blade of a snowplow, but a day on the job in January 2011 after a snowstorm nearly turned to tragedy.
“Heading down (the Trans-Canada Highway), traffic was fairly busy,” Hilliar said. “I looked out my side mirror and saw nothing but a Peterbilt grill.”
The semi was attempting to pass a half-ton truck on the four lane highway near Balgonie, Sask. Hilliar’s snowplow was in the left lane hidden by a cloud of snow. The semi driver attempted to veer back into the right lane, but it was too late.
“I knew he was going to hit me so you just brace yourself in your seat,” Hilliar explained. “It was quite a crunch.”
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Debris littered the highway, but luckily no one was hurt. Hilliar had experienced near misses before in his career, but this was the first time he had actually been hit.
His wife Korine was at home when she got the news.
“His co-worker brought him home and explained what had happened, and he didn’t want him driving after because he was quite shaken,” she said.
Hilliar stayed off the roads for several days until he knew he had to get back to work. Every day, however, Korine says goodbye to him, hoping he will return home safely that night.
“If it’s snowing and blowing and everything, I worry a lot,” Korine said. “I can’t sleep until he’s home.”
Since 1998 there have been 58 collisions involving snowplows on Saskatchewan highways.
“Just drive safe,” said highway minister Don McMorris. “Think about it and don’t be pulling out into white outs. Don’t pass when it’s unsafe because you never know what’s on the other side of that white cloud.”
Korine says it could be a snowplow driver like her husband; someone with a family back home.
“If they were the one in that accident, their family is going to be just as worried as I am,” she said. “It’s safety first for everybody.”
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