A vehicle collided with a fence at the 100 block of Seventh Street SW on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@MedicineHatNews
Medicine Hat police were reporting relatively few incidents as winter driving conditions bore down on the city Thursday.
Snow and wind chills approaching -40C greeted drivers in the morning, and conditions continued throughout the day.
“There have been a few accidents, but overall people are adjusting well,” said Staff Sgt. Trevor Humphries in the late afternoon.
“But you just have to look out the window to see that it’s still snowing and things could get worse.”
Light accumulation of snow was forecast to continue through Friday evening, and extreme cold temperatures were expected to settle in until Monday. A low of -41C is predicted for Saturday night, while daytime highs might now rise above -30C.
Power outage
While highway travel provided generally clear roads on major highways, cold weather did challenge the rural power grid in the southeast.
Equs reported that 1,000 meters were offline in the region with crews investigating at 3:30 p.m. At about the same time Thursday, Fortis Alberta reported 21 customers near Duchess were without power.
Schools
School boards in Medicine Hat are planning to operate as usual under cold weather protocols on Friday but warn parents to be aware buses may be delayed and to pay attention to regular channels of communication for updates, delays or changes.
Parents and students in the regional Prairie Rose School Division can find updates on busing at the division’s website myprps.com
Crash investigation now closed
A car crash near Medicine Hat high school on Wednesday afternoon was the result of a medical emergency, police say, but no pedestrian or bystander injuries at the site.
The collision occurred at about 3 p.m., shortly before school let out, with the vehicle knocking down a large section of tall fence at a private residence near the intersection of First Avenue and Seventh Street SW.
Police told the News on Thursday afternoon they have closed the file on the crash without laying charges.
