Drivers who photographed Alberta rollover handed distracted driving tickets by RCMP

RCMP are warning drivers to keep their hands on the wheel while travelling past accidents, saying a number of distracted driving tickets were issued on Tuesday to people using their cellphones to take pictures of a rollover.

Emergency crews were called to Highway 1 west of Suffield, Alta., just after noon for a semi-trailer that had rolled in the eastbound lanes after a tire burst.

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The driver of the semi-trailer was seriously injured and had to be air-lifted to hospital in Calgary by HALO Air Ambulance, RCMP said.

In a Wednesday news release, RCMP said first responders noticed a handful of drivers taking photos of the rollover on their phones.

Officers said five $300 distracted driving tickets were issued — including one to the driver of a commercial vehicle.

“It is unlawful to drive a vehicle on a highway while holding, viewing or manipulating a cell phone,” police said.

The hamlet of Suffield is located about 170 kilometres northeast of Lethbridge.