A single-vehicle collision earlier this week near Fenn Road was likely caused when the driver, who was hauling steel rods, had a medical emergency, RCMP Cpl. Cam Russell said.
The condition and age of the driver is unknown, as is whether he suffered any injuries in the collision itself, Russell said, but he noted that the driver was taken to Stettler hospital in medical distress from the medical incident, not the collision.
The load of steel rods, for the most part, remained strapped to the trailer and the Stettler District Fire Department responded to the scene with EMS.
Russell noted that in the past week police responded to 95 calls; some were the usual 911 hang-ups and false alarms, though there were several traffic complaints and domestic violence calls.
One thing that caught Russell’s eye was the number of vehicle versus wildlife incidents.
“Living in Alberta, it’s something we deal with,” he said of the wildlife issue. Drivers should remain alert for wildlife in the fields and trees on the side of the road, and drive slower at night so they don’t drive faster than they can react due to the shorter sight distances.
Police have also continued to take a proactive approach to drugs, especially methamphetamines, which are a growing issue, though this week was not as successful as last week, Russell noted.
Russell said mischief and theft continue to be a pleasant weather issue, meaning the numbers climb in the spring and summer before it becomes too cold to be comfortably outside.
One thing that is an issue is theft from vehicles, made easy by people who choose to not lock their doors. There are people who will go door-to-door, checking to see if vehicles are unlocked. Whether it’s change from the cupholder, a pack of cigarettes, clothing or other valuables possibly left in the car, these thefts can add up to a nice little haul for the thief.
Valuables should not be left in the car, or if they must be should be left out of sight, under a seat or in the glove compartment, or in the trunk.
Don’t hang up on 911
Police want to remind callers to not hang up if they accidentally dial 911, or if the situation changes and they think it isn’t necessary.
When a call comes in to 911, the responder on the other end is obligated to phone back, and if he or she can’t get in touch, they will send police to investigate a hang-up in case the hang-up is due to a serious incident, whether medical or criminal. This ties up both 911 and police resources.
A few seconds to say, “I’m sorry, I misdialed,” or “I’m sorry, I was mistaken, it’s OK,” can save responders a great deal of time and help keep police, EMS and fire resources free for emergencies.