EDMONTON- Hundreds of people were injured Thursday following a multi-vehicle crash in snowy conditions near Leduc on Highway 2 south of Edmonton.
Highway 2 from Highway 13 (Wetaskiwin exit) to Highway 616 (Millet exit) was closed in both directions, as police investigated and emergency crews worked to remove vehicles.
At 11:30 a.m., Thursday, RCMP announced the QE2 north bound was blocked just past the BlackGold Overpass because several vehicles and a tractor trailer were in the ditch. North bound traffic was being diverted to Highway 2A through Leduc.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirms 100 people suffered injuries in several collisions Thursday. One person was taken to the University of Alberta hospital with serious injuries, 22 people were transported by bus to other nearby hospitals, and 80 people were treated on scene for minor injuries, according to AHS.
Patients were taken to hospitals in Edmonton, Leduc, Red Deer, Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert, Devon, Wetaskiwin, Camrose and Stony Plain.
EPS officers were called in to assist with the collision. Two officers provided an escort for ETS buses, which was used to transport those with minor injuries.
Police said the Disaster and Emergency Operations Service branch of the EPS was on stand-by, if a request for additional assistance had been made.
Thursday's snow storm caused havoc all over the capital region.
There was a major crash Thursday morning on Highway 16 west of Edmonton.
Stony Plain RCMP said as many as six vehicles were involved in the collision, four of them being semis.
RCMP said there wer some injuries but didn't have details as to the seriousness.
One of the semi's completely blocked the eastbound lanes of the highway, causing traffic to be diverted to Highway 16A.
Police were attending to several collisions on the highway Thursday morning because of icy road conditions and poor visibility caused by blowing snow.
RCMP advised motorists, if their vehicle was stuck, not to get out of their vehicle unless they had safe alternate transportation.
Around 20 centimetres fall on the Edmonton area on Thursday
The wind made conditions even worse. Gusts were reaching up to 40 kilometers an hour.
Lac La Biche RCMP issued a highway advisory late Thursday night.
Officers say the following highways are snow covered, have sections of black ice and are in poor winter driving conditions.
Highway 63
Highway 881
Highway 36
Highway 55 East
Highway 55 West
Highway 663
Highway 858
RCMP advise against travel throughout the area.
For a full, up to date list of area road closures, follow 511 Alberta on Twitter or visit Alberta 511's website.
With files from Jenna Bridges, Global News
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