Icy roads snarl Calgary commute as woman dies in T-bone crash on Deerfoot

Overnight snowfall led to almost a hundred collisions on Calgary streets, including a crash that killed a woman whose car spun out of control on Deerfoot Trail and T-boned by a semi-truck.

Police say between 9 p.m. Wednesday and noon on Thursday, the fresh snowfall led to 92 collisions on Calgary streets, 11 involving injuries.

A 44-year-old woman was northbound on Deerfoot Trail near Stoney Trail at about 9:45 p.m. when her 2002 BMW spun out of its lane and was T-boned by the semi-truck behind her, which then jackknifed and went off the road.

She was taken to hospital, where she was declared dead.

The driver of the truck was not injured. Northbound lanes on Deerfoot Trail were closed for several hours from Country Hills Boulevard to Stoney Trail.

Police say speed, alcohol or drugs do not seem to have been factors in the crash. Anyone who saw the collision is asked to contact the Calgary police traffic unit at 403-567-4000.

Winter driving: How not to slip and slide

8 years ago

Duration 0:47

Keep calm and drive on! Here are some tips to help keep you safe during your winter commute.

'Drive to conditions'

Now that winter driving conditions have returned, police say motorists should make sure their vehicles have emergency supplies, including warm clothes, a shovel and a first-aid kit. 

Drivers should also remember to travel farther behind the vehicle in front of them, said AMA driver education manager Ron Wilson.

"On a dry road, you want to give at least a three-second following distance. On a day like today, it'll be a little more slippery, you'll want to give yourself a four to six second following distance," he said.

"And the other thing is to drive to conditions. Always slow down and drive to conditions." 

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