By Nigel Maxwell

Local politicians call for safety improvements at deadly intersection

Apr 9, 2018 | 5:45 PM

Premier Scott Moe has said the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure will do a full investigation to see if changes are needed at the intersection where Friday’s deadly bus crash occurred. Local politicians and people who live in the area also have some suggestions of their own.

On Monday, the Rural Municipality of Connaught council met and passed a resolution for rumble strips to be added.

“I think rumble strips would be as good as start as any, like it kind of draws your attention as soon as you hit them,” Reeve Art Lalonde told paNOW, adding he would even like to go one step further and add an overhead light to give drivers more warning about the impending junction.

When asked how he and council was feeling about the crash, Lalonde said he was still in shock, and needed to know more information.

“You know I don’t know if the truck went through at 100 km/hr or if he was pulling away. One guy at the table today said the truck had stopped and was just pulling away but I looked at where the wreckage ended up and I don’t think the trucker slowed down,” Lalonde said.

RCMP investigation

Preliminary hearing underway for accused in Cope death

1h ago

Fundraiser for Humane Society

Guitars and Cars Show 'n Shine to include live music

22h ago

Joins defending-champion, Mariners

North Stars' Burgeson commits to Vancouver Island University

23h ago

According to statistics from Saskatchewan Government Insurance, there have been six crashes at the junction of highways 35 and 355 since 1994, including one in 1997 where a family of six from British Columbia was killed. After that crash, the government’s response was to install a flashing red light at the intersection.

Christy Vodicka lives down the road from where Friday’s crash happened. She said there’s a bad blind spot.

“If you look at the aerial view there is that farm yard kind of on the corner on what would have been the truck driver’s left hand side and there’s that bluff of trees so the bus driver would have never have seen him,” she said.

She echoed Lalonde’s comments that more safety improvements are needed.

“I think there definitely has to be rumble strips because the intersection comes up on you quickly,” she said. 

Fred Bradshaw, the MLA for Carrot River Valley said he is all too familiar with the busy intersection, having travelled the highway hundreds of times himself. He hesitated on the idea of adding rumble strips, explaining he was not sure how effective they would be for semi-truck drivers.

“Couple thoughts on my mind are maybe putting another flashing light and another sign further back, on top of the one there,” he said.

For Bradshaw, Friday’s crash has hit very close to home. Bradshaw has two teenage kids of his own who are involved in school sports.

“You always thought the bus was a very safe way to go, and you never actually worried about it, and there were times I went along as a fan on the bus too,” he said.

Bradshaw is also from the same home town as the bus driver Glen Doerksen, who he described as a great person who was very competent behind the wheel. 

“He was a very well-liked person and he was a linesman for when our football team played and a very good driver,” Bradshaw said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible, terrible tragedy.”

Bradshaw said he also wanted to acknowledge the emergency services personnel who arrived at the scene, as well as the town of Nipawin for being so prepared. 

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell