Medicine Hat man arrested after striking Bassano firefighter attending accident

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 24, 2025.

An 84-year-old male driver from Medicine Hat has been arrested for dangerous driving after he struck a Bassano female firefighter and fire truck attending a separate accident along Highway 1 last weekend.

The firefighter suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital where she remains in stable condition.

According to Mounties, first responders were on the scene of a two-vehicle collision in the eastbound lanes of Highway 1 and Range Road 175 at 9 p.m. last Saturday night.

While attending the scene, an eastbound vehicle driven by the Medicine Hat senior approached the emergency vehicles at a high rate of speed and police say he made no effort to slow down or avoid the blocked lanes, despite flashing emergency lights, traffic control and an unobstructed view of the collision scene.

The driver struck the firefighter and then collided into a fire truck before coming to a stop.

“This was an unsettling and scary incident for all the first responders on scene,” said Bassano RCMP Sgt. Joe Schmidt. “The professionalism and composure of all involved in the medical response to their own friend and colleague made the difference needed to deal with her injuries and our investigation. Our thoughts and well wishes are with the injured firefighter and her fire department. All support measures are being offered.”

Evidence on scene resulted in the arrest of the senior for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm as well as several violation tickets issued for exceeding speed limit while passing an emergency vehicle, and for not providing aid to the firefighter he struck.

The driver also received a 24-hour driving suspicion and a review of his fitness to drive is being completed. He was released and is scheduled to appear before courts Nov. 12.

“We urge all drivers to slow down and pay attention while driving, especially when passing emergency vehicles,” said Schmidt. “You must move over and slow to 60 km/h at minimum. All our lives are on the line when on a roadway. We want to get home to see our families as much as you need to get to your destination.”

Investigation into the collision is ongoing.

The vehicles in the original collision suffered minor damage and no serious injuries were reported.