semi jackknife

Emergency crews were called to a jack-knifed semi on the Trans-Canada Highway between Moose Jaw and Caronport. (Photo: DiscoverMooseJaw.com)

Parts of the southwest and much of southern Saskatchewan were hit with a blast of winter to start the Easter long weekend.

A storm bringing heavy snow and blowing snow moved into the province, and road conditions seemed to deteriorate rapidly as soon as it arrived. RCMP reported no fewer than 14 traffic collisions throughout the southern half of the province between 11:00am and 2:00pm Friday, and some serious accidents through the rest of the day, including a fatal accident in the evening.

Two people were killed in a head-on collision between two half-ton trucks on Highway 10 near Fort Qu'Appelle just before 10:00pm Friday night. The two drivers of the trucks were found dead at the scene, while a female passenger was sent to hospital in serious condition after being trapped in one of the vehicles.

Earlier in the day, three people, including a young child under 10 years old, were trapped in a pickup that rolled off Highway 1 eastbound near Pense in the early afternoon. The Trans-Canada was also closed between Moose Jaw and Caronport where a semi jack-knifed on the road, blocking traffic for several hours.

Road conditions have improved somewhat, but you are advised to keep up to date by calling the Highway Hotline at 1-888-335-7623, or click the road report link on Swift Current Online.