Pedestrian Dies After Truck Collision on Calgary's Deerfoot Trail

A person died Tuesday afternoon after a truck and trailer struck them on northbound Deerfoot Trail near 17th Avenue S.E. in Calgary, according to Calgary police. Investigators believe the victim had pulled onto the right shoulder to change a flat tire when the other vehicle changed lanes while preparing to leave the roadway.

Police responded shortly after 1 p.m. to reports of a person struck by a vehicle. Officers found the victim at the scene and pronounced them dead, Traffic Unit Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward said.

Woodward said preliminary information suggests the truck and trailer was moving between lanes to reach the exit at 17th Avenue S.E. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators. No charges have been laid so far.

Woodward described the initial findings as preliminary, noting that investigators believe the driver was preparing to exit Deerfoot Trail when the collision occurred.

"Early indications would indicate that the offending vehicle was in the process of changing lanes and we believe was probably looking to come off the Deerfoot at the 17th Avenue turn off," Woodward told CBC News.

The collision has highlighted the risks drivers face when a vehicle breaks down on a busy highway. Woodward said the narrow shoulder provides substantially less space than a regular traffic lane, leaving people vulnerable to passing vehicles.

"There's a lot of concern for other motorists and obviously for the person who's broken down, because the hard shoulder itself, as we know, is nowhere near as big as a lane on the carriageway," Woodward said.

He also explained that changing a wheel on the driver's side can place a person directly beside moving traffic, increasing their exposure to vehicles traveling in the adjacent lane.

"Nine times out of 10, if somebody is looking to change a wheel on the driver's side of the vehicle then they are going to be exposed to the lane that's actually on the carriageway itself," Woodward said.

Woodward advised motorists who must stop because of a breakdown to move beyond the metal roadside barriers, if possible. He also said drivers planning to change a tire at the roadside can contact police for assistance.

According to Woodward, police can dispatch an available unit to provide additional support and visibility while a driver deals with the disabled vehicle. Investigators have not announced any charges in connection with the fatal collision.