Local tow truck operators and emergency crews are rallying on Wednesday evening on both sides of Lloydminster to remind drivers of the need to slow to 60 km/hr when passing emergency and road crews working on the highway.
John Buhnai with Action Towing says they are out working on the highways and they need the public to slow down.
“We have no choice but we have to work in that spot. So we need the public to make it a safe place for us. We need them to be aware and slow down. If anyone has ever stood out there beside their vehicle and had vehicles go flying by at 100 or 110 km/hr. They know what that feels like. It’s scary.”
Next Wednesday May 4th from 6:30 p.m. emergency crews and tow truck operators will be gathering both on the Alberta side at the roadside pullouts both east and west bound. On the Saskatchewan side the staging area will be on the highway in front of the Britannia Fire Hall, again on both the east and west sides of Highway 16.
Buhnai says that in North America a tow truck operator is killed at least once a week on highways. He notes that the Midwest is not immune to this tragedy.
“A few years ago, a tire truck operator got killed out by Lashburn on the Saskatchewan side and a couple summers ago, we had three highway workers that got hit. And two of them got injured very badly and the third guy was roughed up, just by Mannville on Highway 16.”
The awareness evening will last for about an hour then the group will gather for a photo opportunity at the Britannia Fire Hall.