Driver killed in crash with construction equipment on Highway 16

A driver is dead after crashing into a boom lift on Highway 16 while a worker was in the basket. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson reports.

Westbound Highway 16 near Acheson was closed early Thursday morning because of a fatal crash involving construction equipment.

An SUV collided with a lifted work platform at the Highway 60 intersection sometime around 2:45 a.m., according to Parkland County RCMP.

The SUV driver, a 44-year-old man from Spruce Grove, died at the scene.

A worker who was standing on the platform at the time of the collision was seriously hurt and hospitalized.

The jobs, economy, trade and immigration ministry confirmed Occupational Health and Safety is investigating the incident.

In a statement, Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said, in part: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life.

This incident is a stark reminder of why drivers must slow down and stay alert in construction zones. ... With hundreds of projects underway this season, we’re urging Albertans to follow posted speeds, watch for workers and equipment, and do their part to help everyone get home safely.”

At the time of the crash, the Highway 16 westbound right lane was closed for construction work on the Highway 60 Bridge overpass.

The 17-tonne lift was behind pylons and barricades. Debris from the SUV, including its engine, was visible at the crash scene.

The wreckage, which scattered into eastbound lanes, closed Highway 16 in both directions for most of Thursday. RCMP are still determining the cause of the crash.

“It could be that the driver may not have seen the lift at the time, saw the lift at the last moment, tried to make some corrective actions," Cpl. Cuneyt Zanbak with Parkland RCMP told CTV News Edmonton.

Investigators will next reconstruct the scene to rule out alcohol, distracted driving or speed as factors.