An Alberta RCMP vehicle was hit by a passing truck while conducting a traffic stop near High River on Monday.
At about 11:30 a.m. that day, an officer with the RCMP’s traffic unit conducted a traffic stop in the southbound lane of Highway 2, near Highway 540, according to a news release.
The officer was driving an unmarked RCMP vehicle and was parked behind another vehicle that had been pulled over.
The RCMP vehicle’s emergency lights were turned on and road conditions were dry and clear, Mounties said.
They said while the officer was in his car writing a ticket, a passing Ford F350 struck the vehicle, knocking off it’s side mirror.
The truck did not move over or slow down prior to the impact, according to RCMP.
The driver of the Ford F350 remained at the scene. Police say the driver told them he did not see the vehicle or its emergency lights.
No injuries were reported.
A spokesperson for the RCMP said the driver of the Ford F350 was issued a violation ticket in relation to the incident.
“This officer is very lucky,” said Sgt Darrin Turnbull with Alberta RCMP.
“This was inches away from being a terrible tragedy. Drivers need to pay attention while they are driving and follow the law when passing any stopped roadside vehicle with lights activated.”
The RCMP are reminding Alberta drivers to slow down and move over to the far lane of traffic when passing vehicles that have pulled over, including police, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks and maintenance trucks.