Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter
Up to 20 people were involved with the rescue. (Northern Village of La Loche/Facebook)
helping hand

La Loche volunteers rescue stranded semi-truck driver

Jan 27, 2021 | 4:50 PM

Residents of La Loche banded together to rescue a semi-truck driver after he became stranded between their community and Fort McMurray.

It was on Monday when Brenda Kokan-Janvier and her husband found the man, who was stuck along Highway 956 at Christina River Crossing. They were travelling to Fort McMurray to purchase renovation supplies but were unable to help the driver, because it wasn’t possible with just their vehicle alone.

The semi was hauling isolation units when it became stuck. (Northern Village of La Loche/Facebook)

The stretch of road he became stuck on connects Alberta and Saskatchewan and is closed during the summer. There is a weight restriction at the crossing, but Kokan-Janvier noted there is no sign in the area warning motorists of one.

“We went to Fort Mac to pick up the supplies and, on the way back, we picked up food for him and dropped it off,” she said. “Before leaving I got his number and I asked if it was OK if I contacted him just to see if he got help.”

The next day, the man, who is from the Edmonton area, was still there. He told Kokan-Janvier the tow truck supposed to assist him didn’t arrive. The temperature reached a low of -30 C that night.

It wasn’t long, however, that news of the stranded man spread throughout La Loche and local residents stepped up the provide a helping hand. Kokan-Janvier explained up to 20 people volunteered in the rescue, trying anything they could think of to free the semi. Finally, at 8:30 p.m., they were able to get the truck moving again.

The semi was freed Tuesday around 8:30 p.m.

“I’m very proud of the community for stepping up, not asking for anything and trying whatever they could to band together and help out this young guy get to La Loche safely,” she said. “I’m just glad everything turned out OK and the drivers are on their way back to Edmonton. His father showed up yesterday just like any parent would do worried about their child.”

Kokan-Janvier mentioned it’s not the first time someone became stranded in that area. She said if motorists are new to the highway and are using GPS, they’ll be unaware of what conditions are like.

larongeNOW reached out to the truck driver, but didn’t receive a response by publishing.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno

View Comments