Police and firefighters are advising motorists to use extreme caution on area highways as freezing rain has resulted in numerous collisions.
Warman Fire Rescue responded to a three-vehicle collision in Warman’s north end shortly after 11:00 a.m. and treated at least one person on scene suffering from what appeared to be minor injuries. First responders were also called to a rollover on Highway 305 west of Warman shortly afterward.
Martensville Fire Department first responders were called to a rollover in the centre median on Highway 12 south of Martensville at about 11:00 a.m. By the time they arrived on scene there were numerous other vehicles in the ditches as well.
RCMP in the area are advising motorists against non-essential travel until road conditions improve. A winter storm with high winds is expected in the area later today and tomorrow.
Asquith Fire Department first responders were called to a motor vehicle collision at the S-curve on Highway 14 near Saskatoon Livestock Sales on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Asquith Fire Department’s facebook page. Traffic was rerouted while emergency workers attended to the scene. The highway was reopened by mid-afternoon.
The Prairie Spirit School Division issued a notice around noon on Wednesday, January 13 that school buses would not be running in the afternoon due to the hazardous road conditions.
The Saskatoon Police Service is responding to multiple collisions as a result of freezing rain that has started to fall. The locations of the collisions are College Drive and McOrmond Drive, Central Avenue and Fedoruk Drive, and Circle Drive and Clarence Avenue. At this time, none of the collisions are believed to have resulted in any serious injuries.
The provincial Highway Hotline said travel was not recommended on all highways in the Saskatoon area on Wednesday afternoon. These included Highway 11 south of Saskatoon, Highway 12 and Highway 11 north of Saskatoon, Highway 7, Highway 14 and Highway 16 west of Saskatoon, Highway 16 and Highway 5 east of Saskatoon. Travel was also not recommended on Highway 305 between Warman and Langham.
According to Environment Canada, weather conditions are expected to continue to decline with freezing rain and/or snow, and increasing winds throughout the day.
Police wish to remind the public that speed limits are set based on ideal road conditions. As conditions are not ideal, motorists are asked to adjust their speeds accordingly, leave extra time to get to their destination, and extra space between the vehicles in front of them.