Speed is said to be a factor in a three-vehicle collision near Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park that forced the closure of Highway 93 South for several hours on Sunday (June 2).
Police say one person was taken by STARS air ambulance to a Calgary hospital with a serious, but non life-threatening chest injury, while the remaining people, including a family, escaped relatively unscathed.
The cleanup from the accident, which included a large fifth wheel RV, took several hours. The highway was closed in both directions between Castle Mountain and Vermilion Crossing for several hours that night.
“There was a large debris field everywhere,” said Cpl. Brent Ayers from Columbia Valley RCMP in Invermere.
Banff and Columbia Valley RCMP were called to the scene, near the B.C.-Alberta border, as were Banff and Lake Louise fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Police say the accident occurred as the driver of a black Ford Edge heading north into Alberta was passing a Dodge Ram. The Edge ended up clipping a Ford F250 towing a fifth wheel trailer travelling south.
“The driver of the Ford Edge lost control on the corner and slid across the south boundary lane and clipped the fifth wheel on the passenger side,” said Ayers.
“The Ford F250 with the fifth wheel spun out of control and the trailer toppled onto the Dodge Ram that was being passed by the Edge. Looks like there was a large debris field.”
Police say the family in the Ford F250 was unhurt, and the driver of the Ford Edge did not appear to have serious injuries. The driver of the Dodge Ram appeared to have a serious, but non life-threatening, chest injury.
Ayers said alcohol is not a factor in accident. “Speed is believed to be a factor. Charges are pending,” he said.
