Highway collision near Duchess leaves 25-year-old Taber man dead

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspaper

A 25-year-old is dead following a June 26 collision between a linen truck and two parked Fortis Alberta vehicles just outside Duchess.

The Fortis vehicles were parked on the shoulder of Highway 550, and several employees were in the ditch conducting electrical repairs.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on June 26, the linen truck driven by a 25-year-old Taber man collided with the Fortis vehicles. Despite life-saving efforts from Fortis employees, the young man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A number of Fortis employees were struck by flying debris, including one who suffered serious injury and had to be admitted to hospital.

The collision blocked traffic near Highway 36 and the Village of Duchess for most of the day, RCMP from Brooks reported.

At 10:30 a.m., a release stated officers were on the scene on secondary Highway 550 west of Duchess, and roadway was impassible for traffic. Motorists were asked to avoid the area, but no more information was provided. A collision reconstruction investigator was dispatched to the scene and the highway was fully open to traffic by early evening.

The investigation continues.