On April 29, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., an Officer with Alberta RCMP Traffic High River, who was operating an unmarked police vehicle, conducted a traffic stop in the southbound lanes on Highway 2, near Highway 540. The Officer had their emergency lights activated and was behind a pulled over vehicle. At the time of the traffic stop, roads were dry and clear and visibility was excellent.
The officer was in his police vehicle preparing a ticket when a passing Ford F350, which did not move over or slow down, struck the police vehicle with its passenger’s side mirror. The officer immediately checked on the driver of the pulled over vehicle and the driver of the vehicle that hit the police vehicle. There were no injuries.
The driver of the Ford F350 indicated that he did not see the police vehicle or the emergency lights.
RCMP are reminding drivers that when driving in the closest lane to any stopped roadside vehicle with flashing lights activated, such as police, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks and maintenance trucks, including those in construction zones, you must move over to the far lane to give workers extra space. If you can’t safely move over, you must slow to at least 60 km/h, or the posted speed limit (whichever is lower).
Sgt Darrin Turnbull with Alberta RCMP Traffic states, “This Officer is very lucky. This was inches away from being a terrible tragedy. Drivers need to pay attention while they are driving and follow the law when passing any stopped roadside vehicle with lights activated.”
