Truck plunges off overpass, killing driver

Original url for story: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/edmonton/story.html?id=c305225f-b66c-49ff-993a...

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

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• semi
• truck
• crash
• edmonton
• yellowhead
• CN
• rail
• bridge

[MrOldtimer57]

@seapeddler WHAT!!!!!!!!!

[MrOldtimer57]

@krafty777 As far as one having a diabetic attack i would not call it that. my grandmother died in a car going the wrong way and it was ruled that her sugar had dropped. If your blood sugar drops low enough it make you unaware of what u r doing whther you r driving a car or walking around the yard. So it is possible for them to be able to go that far if thats what happened i don't know along with everybody else i feel bad for the family of the driver no matter why it happened.

[MrOldtimer57]

@cybermoss1 You Don't know if he committed suicide or if he had a health problem or whatever reaon it happened we will never know so im gonna agree with metallicaissoldout until you know for sure don't pass judgement.

[metallicaissoldout]

I'm done arguing with a bunch of low life, waste of skin pussys. Keep hiding behind you computer screens, none of you were in that truck. Even if you think different about what happend, Show a little respect! Let mark rest. He was a one in a million person, always doing for others not himself. R.I.P

[metallicaissoldout]

why dont you all just shut the fuck up and let him rest in peace you fucking cunts

[cybermoss1]

@amyt0101 HE COMMITED SUICIDE I DON'T CARE WHERE YOUR FROM. PROOF IS IN THE VIDEO.

[krafty777]

@metallicaissoldout

@amyt0101

-- but as a PARAMEDIC, I know what goes on. That, and I myself am hypoglycemic.

You've successfully bullshitted your way through an argument neither of us has the foundation to uphold. And kid, someday you may have to realize that people have demons, and the ones that will take their own life, aren't the ones that talk about it. My sister's dad stuck a 12 gauge in his mouth and pulled the trigger two years after my dad married my mom. Life is rough. Get over it.

[krafty777]

@metallicaissoldout

@amyt0101

I don't care who he was. Caring won't bring him back. If that makes me an asshole, then so be it. Regardless of what a coroner says, nobody, I repeat NOBODY! was in that truck with him. I look at the evidence. Trucker drives TWENTY kilometers on the wrong side of the highway. Yeah, he was SOO unaware of his actions. Bullshit. As far as diabetic attack? No such thing. Diabetic paralysis, diabetic siezure, loss of conciousness due to very low/very high glucose---

[amyt0101]

@krafty777 Then maybe you need to get THE WHOLE STORY...it was CONFIRMED BY A CORRONER that a diabetic attack happened. The wrong man definately died that day as there are many others wastes of human kind whojump to the first story they heard and spread it like wild fire.

[amyt0101]

@cybermoss1 get a life you ass. I'm sure if he was out to do that he could have found asimpler way you un- symaptheic waste of breath. MARK SANTOS was his name and he was long time resident of my community, afriend to my brothers. You have no right to post your uncompassionate views on here.