It didn’t take too long for the new truck bypass and Highway 47 intersection to claim its first collision. The new fast track bypass for heavy trucks to circumvent Estevan was officially opened Nov. 10.
A report from the Estevan detachment of the RCMP said that on Friday, Nov. 27 around 9:50 a.m. a southbound car on Hwy. 47 was in collision with a west bound semi-truck at the intersection.
“It was interesting because this was not a case of the driver of the car not stopping. He did, but then it seems he proceeded before it was safe to do so, and hit the semi. It was a judgment situation,” said Cpl. Keith Kosir, acting commanding officer for the Estevan detachment.
The front end of the car sustained substantial damage but the driver and lone occupant of the car escaped with no serious injuries. The driver of the semi did not suffer any injuries.
“Charges have been laid against an Estevan man for proceeding from a stop sign before it was safe to do so,” said Cpl. Kosior.
The newly built intersection sees the new truck route (bypass) highway intersect with Hwy. 47 a few kilometers north of Estevan with vehicles travelling on Hwy. 47 now having to stop and yield to the oncoming heavy truck traffic. The intersection is marked with a stop sign and advance warning rumble strips to remind drivers of the impending need
to stop.
