300 injured in Edmonton pileup
A street in the Plateau Mont-Royal district of Montreal, Canada, is covered with snow on March 15, 2008.
A blizzard that swept across the Canadian prairies caused a pileup just south of Edmonton, Alberta, has injured 300 travelers who were sent to hospitals.
The storm caused a chain of traffic accidents involving a bus, tractor-trailer trucks and cars.
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Spokesperson with Alberta Health Services Sharman Hnatiuk said four people were seriously hurt, while others suffered minor to moderate injuries. Many were taken to hospitals in surrounding communities, including Edmonton and Red Deer.
"Some of those patients are being transported by buses," said Hnatiuk.
According to QMI Agency, Jeremy Hamilton was driving south just outside of Millet, Alberta, when he saw what happened on the road. He took a photo that showed a ditch strewn with cars and jackknifed tractor-trailers.
"A firefighter told me there were over 40 cars in that area. The ambulance can't even leave because even further up there is another 17 car pile up," Hamilton told QMI via e-mail. "I was planning on heading to Kelowna but I have to turn around whenever I get the chance."
Ten to 15 centimeters of snow is expected to fall in Edmonton by end-of-day Thursday, and Edmonton International Airport officials recommended re-booking flights as travel is not currently recommended.
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