The collision created a backup of 200 vehicles and semi-finals during the snowstorm: Sask. RCMP | The Canadian News

Days after snowstorm conditions hit Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan RCMP is releasing details on its response and lessons for drivers.

Winter weather hit the province Tuesday through Wednesday, but highways in the Moose Jaw and Regina area were victims of a “particularly dangerous situation.”

A press release from the RCMP said a motor vehicle collision and the closure of a highway in the eastbound lanes between the two cities created a backup of about 200 passenger vehicles and semi-finals on Tuesday.

White Butte RCMP Const. Peter Rhead explained that blowing winds of more than 40 miles per hour begin to accumulate snow around stopped vehicles.

Rhead was one of many officers who responded at the scene Tuesday.

“The vehicles at the front of the line experienced the worst weather. Some of them were detained for several hours, so the snow drifts were quite high around them, “he said in a press release.

Officers at the scene had to plan both to clear the motor vehicle collision and to make sure motorists caught waiting on the road were safe.

A collaborative effort between White Butte RCMP, Moose Jaw RCMP and Moose Jaw and Regina Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) helped block access to the road in a timely manner so that cranes could safely reach the scene and clear the vehicles involved in the collision.

Officers were also checking on those trapped in their vehicles. The detachment began receiving calls from people in line wondering how long it would take to clear traffic, as well as some concerned calls from people low on gas, some with children in the car, Rhead said.

“We were prepared to fuel the vehicles if necessary, and do whatever it took to make sure everyone in them was safe and comfortable,” Rhead said.

“That included being prepared to potentially remove people from their vehicles, if that need was identified.”

RCMP says that by then, officers were faced with a five-kilometer-long line of vehicles and blackout conditions. The detachment approached the RCMP search and rescue team, which prepared with snowmobiles the moment they were needed.

The Southern District Management Team (SDMT) and White Butte Detachment Coordinator, Staff Sgt. Jason Sauve was monitoring the overall situation, in addition to other calls for service arriving in southern Saskatchewan.

“The RCMP Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was being considered based on a careful assessment of the risk that the storm would continue longer than anticipated and concerns that heavy equipment could not be brought in immediately due to the weather,” Sauve said. .

“SDMT was contacted to help us prepare the SAR with snowmobiles and slides in case motorists needed more fuel, food or water, or had to be evacuated for medical reasons.”

Fortunately, it was not necessary to deploy all the resources.

At 3 p.m. on that Tuesday, first responders managed to clear the collision from the road and put the vehicles on the road.

Some vehicles on the curb or in heavy snow were left until it was safer for owners to remove them.

Officers checked to make sure no one was left in the abandoned vehicles and police tape was placed on the cars to indicate they had been thoroughly searched.

White Butte RCMP officers, along with a Highway Ministry front loader, helped some of the slightly snow-blocked vehicles get back on the road.

Sauve called the teamwork of the officers and detachments “fantastic.”

“I made a call to the acting RCMP Detachment Commander at Moose Jaw and explained that even though the road was closed, there were still some motorists venturing onto Highway # 1. Some of their detachment officers came out with CTSS to block access points to Highway # 1 until the situation is resolved, ”Sauve said.

Sauve explained that an important consideration was preventing other emergency situations such as another collision in near zero visibility conditions.

“Additional officers from the White Butte Detachment were used to conduct the scene assessment, potentially helping transport members of the public to safe locations and providing much-needed supplies to officers who did not leave the scene all day,” he said. Sauve.

Sauve also appreciated the assistance of the Ministry of Roads and his team. He said he had no idea how long people and officers would have been on the road without his help.

“The collaboration with our partners in the Ministry of Roads and the crane drivers who responded speaks more to the level of teamwork that happened there,” Sauve said.

The RCMP received no reports of injuries from the incident.

“It was a situation where we were prepared for the worst, but luckily, the worst didn’t happen,” Rhead said.

RCMP says the incident serves as a good reminder for officers and drivers to be prepared.

“As the provincial police serving rural Saskatchewan, where winter weather can be considered quite wild at times, the RCMP must be prepared and have resources ready to respond to changing situations, the statement said.

Sauve reminded civilians to make sure their vehicle has plenty of fuel and to have extra warm clothing, snacks, water and a snow shovel on hand before traveling in winter weather.

It’s also a good idea for drivers to have traction mats, a tow rope or chain, and a booster cable while traveling, as well as a spare phone charger.

The RCMP advises residents not to abandon their vehicle if they end up stranded on the road, as other drivers may not be able to see them in adverse conditions.

Drivers are also reminded to make sure their tailpipe is free of ice and snow or that carbon monoxide can seep into the vehicle.