Police continue to search for the suspect(s) after a tanker truck was shot at on a highway south of Grande Prairie last week. RCMP now say two other vehicles were also believed to be shot at by the same suspect(s) within minutes of one another.
“A firearm was being discharged at a moving vehicle, at all three moving vehicles,” Const. Gabrielle Spencer said on Tuesday. “The RCMP is taking these incidents very seriously.”
The RCMP said a tanker truck was being driven on Highway 40 at about 4 p.m. on Wednesday when an “unknown” pickup truck fired a gun at the tanker truck. Police said the tanker truck sustained damage on the driver’s door but the driver wasn’t hurt. The truck was not carrying any flammable products at the time.
Police said they believe the pickup truck was also behind two other shootings on the highway and that all three shootings occurred between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“In all occurrences, the suspect vehicle was travelling northbound,” the RCMP said in a news release. “(A) police investigation… (leads us) to believe there was no specific vehicle targeted in these matters. All affected vehicles were travelling southbound on Highway 40.”
RCMP said a second tanker was hit at the back of the vehicle. The third vehicle, a truck, was hit on the driver’s side door.
READ MORE: Gun fired at passing tanker truck south of Grande Prairie prompts hunt for suspect
Greg Graveline is a truck driver who lived and worked in the Grande Prairie area for about 12 years. While he doesn’t work in the area anymore, he knows the highway well.
“It’s a rough road. It’s a challenge at the best of times. Now we’ve got people shooting at us?” he said. “It’s scary. We’re just out trying to make a living.”
Beyond being potentially struck by a bullet, Graveline outlined a number of other concerns.
“We carry flammable stuff so there could be an explosion, fire, environmental damage. All kinds of stuff can go wrong,” he explained. “The tanks are all sealed so there’s vapours and gas in them, they can explode. Even if it didn’t catch fire, now you’ve got all that product that’s in the tank on the highway and ditch.
“I’m not sure why people would do that. We’ve got people running around with guns firing at tank trucks? Yeah, it’s scary.”
The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) represents people who work in the commercial transportation industry, with its main focus being safety. Andrew Barnes said the association learned of the shootings though social media and after speaking with the RCMP, sent out a warning to members.
“It is very alarming that something like this would happen. We have a lot of pride in the industry and in our members so we’re very shocked that this type of incident would happen,” said Barnes, the director of compliance and regulatory affairs with the AMTA.
Barnes hopes police catch the person or people responsible soon, as the dangers of a situation like this are severe.
“Any time any member of the motoring public is shot at it’s really dangerous, but especially with a tanker hauling any type of fluid – you could have an escape of the fluid, you could alarm the driver and cause a rollover,” he said.
“If they were to lose control, the results could be catastrophic.”
On Monday, police provided a description of the suspect vehicle: a black, 2007 Ford F-250 or Ford F-350 with a 6/8inch lift, black rims and larger wheels.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment at 780-830-5700. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online.