On August 24th, 2011 at approximately 2:45 PM, Wood Buffalo RCMP were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 881, south of Conklin near Km Marker 168. A southbound gravel truck collided head on with a northbound tanker truck resulting in Highway 881 being blocked by the vehicles involved and the spilled load of gravel across the roadway.
According to witnesses, the preliminary cause of the head on collision is believed to have been the result of a blown front tire on the driver side of the gravel truck causing it to cross over the center line into on-coming traffic.
The driver and lone occupant of the gravel truck was taken to Northern Lights Regional Heath Center in Fort McMurray to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The driver and lone occupant of the tanker truck was pronounced deceased on scene.
Highway 881 is currently blocked and will remain so for the next several hours as RCMP continue to investigate.
