Truck plunges off overpass, killing driver
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Truck plunges off overpass, killing driver
Original url for story: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/edmonton/story.html?id=c305225f-b66c-49ff-993a-e46a171f6033&k=19523# Video from Global Edmonton News video podcast (03/31/2008): http://www.canada.com/globaltv/edmonton/podcast/index.html EDMONTON - The driver of a tractor-trailer travelling the wrong way down Yellowhead Trail is dead after plunging off an overpass in Edmonton's west end this afternoon. Police began receiving reports of a semi going east in the westbound lanes of Yellowhead Trail shortly after 1 p.m., said spokeswoman Karen Carlson. The tractor-trailer drove the wrong way for at least 15 kilometres, seemingly trying to target oncoming traffic, said trucker Ken Kerlak, who was having his truck serviced at the Peterbilt shop near 184th Street. He did not witness the accident, but he said he talked to several motorists who saw it all. Kerlak said several cars swerved off the highway to avoid the truck; others rear-ended each other. The tractor-trailer finally climbed the cement barrier along the south side of the overpass, rode the cement barrier as if it was on a monorail, then toppled off and landed upside down beside the train tracks. The impact sheared off the truck's fuel tanks and it burst into flames, Kerlak said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. All traffic on CN has been shut down, as hazardous goods teams clean up spilled diesel fuel and police and firefighters try to find out what happened. Yellowhead Trail will be closed from 170th Street to 184th Street until the cleanup and the investigation are finished. The city advises motorists to detour using 111th Avenue, 118th Avenue and 137th Avenue. A tow truck driver at the scene said there were at least seven cars in the ditch along the stretch of road. © Edmonton Journal 2008 Author: ppc7400 Keywords: semi truck crash edmonton yellowhead CN rail bridge Added: April 1, 2008
YouTube | April 1, 2008
