BROOKS, Alta. -- RCMP are blaming rubber-neck drivers for two collisions on a southern Alberta highway that left one person in hospital with serious injuries.

Mounties say the trouble started after emergency crews shut down both westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway near Brooks late Tuesday night to deal with a fire in a semi carrying frozen chicken.

Around the same time, three eastbound vehicles collided when the drivers slowed to watch firefighters handling the blaze.

No one was seriously hurt, but as crews crossed the road to help with that accident, three more vehicles were involved in a separate collision because of drivers gawking at the calamity.

A 64-year-old woman was airlifted to hospital after she was cut from the wreckage of a minivan.

There's no immediate word on whether charges will be laid.