Two semi trucks carrying wood-related products rolled over the in Fawcett area last week, keeping emergency crews busy.
While the first of the two rollovers on Sept. 4 was relatively minor, not causing injuries or requiring an ambulance, the second of the two on Sept. 5 was somewhat more severe.
Shortly after a emergency crews responded to an unrelated plane crash in the Jarvie area on Sept. 5, a 2000 Freightliner hauling a load of plywood veneer was southbound on Highway 44 near Township Road 644 at about 2 p.m.
The driver, a 53-year-old man from Devon, told RCMP that he fell asleep at the wheel as the vehicle was approaching a curve in the highway near the north entrance to the hamlet.
The truck went off the highway into the west ditch, rolling onto its right side and spilling the veneer into the ditch and causing extensive damage.
The driver was uninjured.
Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Bryan Clayton said police are investigating the incident with help from Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
“Because this is a commercial vehicle, a large freightliner truck, the Alberta Commercial Vehicle Enforcement gets involved with that,” he said, adding he is not certain if charges will be laid.
The previous day, another semi truck hauling logs rolled into a ditch near the same location.
RCMP got a call about the rollover at about 5:30 p.m. A Peterbilt semi was southbound on Highway 44 near Fawcett, when the 21-year-old driver from Edmonton went off the road.
“He tried to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle, so he took evasive maneuvers and ended up in the ditch. He wasn’t injured, and EMS was not even required.”
