'It's been a morning': Freezing rain makes for treacherous Saskatoon area commute
Freezing rain on Thursday morning has contributed to dangerous driving conditions in and around Saskatoon.
The City of Saskatoon advised drivers in a news release to exercise caution while driving today and to leave extra time for their commutes.
Thirteen sanders were out spreading de-icer overnight and another 14 sanders worked throughout the morning on high-traffic streets, intersections and bridge decks, the city said.
The Saskatoon police said its officers responded to four reported collisions since 6 a.m.
Highways around the city were also covered in ice Thursday morning.
First responders were on the scene of two accidents on Highway 7, including a collision near Zealandia just after 10 a.m., according to Highway Hotline.
Saskatchewan Highway Patrol was on the scene of a separate accident near Delisle where a semi truck jack-knifed and slid into the ditch at a turn-off.
In an update on social media, the Delisle and District Fire Department said several first-responder vehicles ended up stuck due to the icy conditions.
"We had a total headcount of three fire units, two tow trucks, one ambulance, one police car and one personal vehicle stuck in the ditch," the post said.
"It’s been a morning."
The Saskatchewan RCMP said it received more than 40 reports of weather-related traffic issues across the province before noon, including motor vehicle collisions and vehicles stuck in the ditch.
Around 6:15 a.m. RCMP officers were called to the scene after a vehicle collided with a semi that was parked on the side of the road, a spokesperson for the RCMP said. Just after 7 a.m., the RCMP said a semi rolled on O'Malley Road near Pike Lake, leaving the driver with minor injuries.
RCMP warned that roads will continue to be icy through the night.
"We ask all motorists to consider delaying travel today if they are able. If they cannot, check the Highway Hotline for road conditions/closure before heading out," RCMP said in an update.
The City of Saskatoon advises drivers to adjust their driving to suit the road conditions, leave extra room, and watch for the blue and yellow flashing lights on road equipment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.