Photo courtesy RCMP
Witnesses sought

RCMP seek witnesses to fiery, fatal tanker crash near Fort St John

May 28, 2020 | 11:12 AM

FORT ST JOHN — Mounties are seeking witnesses following a fiery, fatal tanker truck collision near Fort St. John this week.

Police say on Tuesday just after 4 p.m., RCMP received a report of a fully engulfed tractor trailer on the Alaska Highway between Rd 269 and Rd 271.

“Upon arrival it was determined that a southbound tanker tuck hauling crude oil made a sharp left turn across the highway, upon which time it rolled over into the opposing ditch and caught fire,” says Cpl. Mike Halskov. “The lone driver of the tanker, a man in his late forties from the Central Interior region, was not able to escape the wreckage and was killed as a result.”

He says the Fort St John and Charlie Lake Fire Departments contained the fire while RCMP officers evacuated motorists and residents from the area for their health and safety due to the toxicity of the blaze. No other people, vehicles, structures or nearby forested areas were affected.