On the morning of Nov. 28, through a thick patch of fog and a road covered in black ice, five heavy equipment vehicles collided on Highway 13 at Arcola.
As detailed in the weekly RCMP report, after a flat deck trailer was unhooked from its power unit, it was struck by two approaching vehicles; subsequently, two additional vehicles struck each other while trying to avoid the prior collision.
RCMP emphasized the critical role that the Carlyle Fire Department played in setting up traffic controls that morning. They were "absolutely instrumental in setting up traffic controls to ensure the safety of the all persons at the scene," which included RCMP and Emergency Medical Services, according to the RCMP.
While securing a buffer zone around the scene of the accident, there were reports of firefighters dodging oncoming traffic through the fog and ice. Although firefighters set up a variety of signs and road flares to slow down traffic, it seemed like their physical presence was still needed to get the message to slow down across to drivers.
Although no injuries were reported, had any passenger vehicles been involved in the accident it probably would have been a different story according to RCMP.
Corporal Kelly Guider from the Carlyle RCMP detachment wished to send out a "big thank you" to the Carlyle Fire Department for their assistance that morning.
