Delta Police officers are receiving praise on social media after coming to the aid of some horses in a trailer stuck in an accident scene on Highway 17 Thursday.
Angela Booth Loewen posted on Facebook Friday thanking the officers for their efforts.
“Tonight (Thursday) we got stuck on Highway 17 with our horse(s) in a trailer just a head of us. After five hours and not sure when we will move as news was saying 11 p.m. we needed to get them water,” she wrote in her post. “A huge thank you to the Delta Police coming out to help one of the barn dads get through the traffic with water. We all greatly appreciate this.”
DPD in turn thanked Loewen for her positive words and support in a Facebook post of their own.
“Today, we are feeling very grateful for the support we receive from our community, and the help we are able to provide on a daily basis. Thank you for your positive words,” said DPD. “The horses needed water. Thinking nothing of it, our officers worked with the motorist, and one of the “barn dads” who brought water. The officers helped the barn dad get through the stopped traffic to tend the horses.
“The officers didn't think anything of their efforts, it's part of the job. Helping. This morning, we woke to a post in one of our local community Facebook groups, thanking our officers for their effort and work. The outpouring of support in the comments on that post are very appreciated by every DPD officer, especially the ones that were working yesterday afternoon at that collision scene.”
According to police, a loaded semi-truck was unable to stop in time, colliding with the concrete barrier dividing eastbound traffic from westbound traffic. The semi-truck also collided with two eastbound cars.
“As a result of contacting the centre barrier, 10 concrete barriers were moved out of place, including several that were pushed out into the westbound traffic lanes,” said police. “One westbound car was struck by a concrete barrier as the collision occurred. The concrete barriers came to rest in a manner that physically blocked the westbound traffic from being able to pass the collision location.”
Police say in total, four vehicles were involved, and one occupant was transferred to hospital for minor injuries.
“The clean-up of this collision was a complex operation,” said police. “All three passenger cars required tows, as well as the semi-truck and trailer. In addition to the towing of the vehicles, an environmental team was required for fuel clean-up at the scene. Once the vehicles were clear, the concrete barriers needed to be moved out of the traffic lanes.”
The concrete barriers were finally cleared from the road at 7:25 p.m. Thursday night resulting in the first westbound lane opening at 7:30 p.m. and both westbound lanes fully opening at 7:45 p.m.
