The afternoon of May 24 proved to be a busy one for emergency responders in Cochrane, with two simultaneous incidents that impacted traffic flow through the intersection at Hwy 1A and 22 for about two hours.
At around 2:20 p.m., Cochrane RCMP and Fire responded to a complaint of a vehicle fire on Hwy 22, around half a km north of Hwy 1A.
An investigation determined that the driver of a tractor trailer unit delivering fuel to the Sunset Gas Plus location observed smoke billowing from the engine compartment and the sound of a small explosion, which prompted him to pull over.
While roadside, the engine compartment caught fire and the driver made a failed attempt to douse the fire with an extinguisher; the fire then grew, engulfing the cab of the truck.
Upon arrival, Cochrane Fire was able to contain the fire.
The incident has been attributed to a mechanical malfunction. The driver reported that his oil and water temperatures on the unit were ‘extremely hot’ and may have contributed to the fire.
Nobody was injured; no other vehicles were involved and no charges will be laid.
Normally, an explosion results when fuel vapors leak and become ignited and flare up. This did not happen in this case.
At the same time as the fuel tanker incident, a motorcyclist got into a collision with the guard rail at the intersection of Hwy 1A and 22.
The last traveller in a group of four motorcyclists heading westbound on 1A, the driver failed to negotiate a southbound turn onto Hwy 22.
He then lost control, hit the guard rail and was flung over to the other side. He was transported to Foothills Hospital with an upper leg fracture.
Several off-duty firefighters assisted with the incident.
Two occupants of a motorcycle, a male and female both in their late 50s, were transported to Foothills Hospital in stable, non-life threatening condition May 22. Emergency medical services and RCMP responded to a collision around 5:30 p.m. between a motorcycle and a car at Springbank Road and Range Road 33. According to Cochrane RCMP, a car that was heading northbound along Range Road 33 appears to have failed to stop at a stop sign, striking the motorcycle heading eastbound.
Charges may be pending on the driver for failing to stop and possibly for distracted driving, as there are indications that they were using a hand-held device.
Reports indicate the female motorcyclist sustained a serious leg injury and the male sustained a minor back injury and various soft tissue injuries.
The driver of the car did not sustain any injuries.
