An eastbound pickup truck on Highway 16 struck a tractor trailer 20 kms east of Jasper last night, sending the 56-year-old truck driver to the Hinton hospital with life threatening injuries and causing a four-hour wait for motorists on the highway.
The collision occurred around 5:45 p.m. when the pickup truck crossed the centre line into the westbound lane, striking the side of the tractor trailer, causing significant damage to the side of the tractor and the length of the trailer, according to an RCMP press release.
The driver of the pickup truck, a man from Campbell River, B.C., was transported to Hinton by ambulance, along with his female passenger who sustained minor injuries. The man was placed into an induced coma due to the seriousness of his injuries and was transferred to a hospital in Edmonton via STARS.
The 71-year-old male driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured.
Alcohol and drugs are believed to be a factor in the collision, according to the RCMP.
A collision analyst is assisting with the investigation and was on the scene late last night.
Charges of impaired driving are pending, while RCMP await the results of blood samples taken at the hospital.
The Jasper RCMP is requesting assistance from the public, asking that anyone who witnessed the collision come forward. To contact the RCMP, call 780-852-4421 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
