Moose Jaw - On Jan. 12, snow plow driver Peter Yankow had just started his shift, clearing snow on the Trans-Canada Highway when his truck was hit by a semi.
"It was just . . . bang! It launched me into the back of the cab. I just watched my cellphone fly off the dash, past my head," Yankow described the impact.
He was at the Kalium Road intersection and decided to pull over to let traffic go by. He was going 60 kilometres per hour when a semi truck hit him at 100 kilometres per hour.
His truck lurched forward and Yankow rocked backward violently.
The semi driver didn't see Yankow's truck. A small cloud of snow had enveloped the plow.
The semi's windshield blew out, sending glass into the semi-drivers face, he suffered cuts to his face and hands. Yankow was banged up, too.
"I still get headaches and I have a minor concussion. After you get hit, it makes you think twice about going back out there. It makes you a little gun shy," Yankow said.
The Moose Jaw resident he can't afford to stop working but hoped drivers would take more care.
Part of his job is the Night Rider program.
Plow drivers in Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert patrol the busiest highways from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. They watch for accidents, report traffic conditions and help police with traffic control.
Yankow's seen all sorts of danger on the highway.
One of his responsibilities is to clear the roads of debris, including dead animals, straw bales and stoves.
Once, he saw a car drive off into the ditch when the road was clear of ice.
"I pulled over to see if she was OK. She had been texting," Yankow said.
He also provides roadside assistance to drivers who have crashed in the ditch and makes regular road reports to the highway hotline.
The government is trying to make people aware of the Night Riders program as well as the need for people to take care around snow plows.
Kirsten Leatherdale, the manager of communications for Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of safe highways.
"We're a landlocked province. Road transportation is critical to our economy," Leatherdale said. "Clear roads are essential to safety."
She also said drivers need to slow down if they see a cloud of snow.
"We don't want to see our snow plow operators in the hospital."
Matthew Barton can be reached at 691-1258.
Night riders nightmare
Night riders nightmare
- Published on Febuary 5th, 2009
- Published on July 10th, 2009
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Matthew Barton
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Comments
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- Daily Commuter
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:23:44
As a person who commutes daily from Moose Jaw to Regina, I am thankful every winter morning that the crews were out before I was to clear a path. So if no one has said thank you lately for doing a great good,,,,THANK YOU.
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- joe
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:43:45
slow down in the snow zone for sure these guys do a great job keeping our highways clear and my hat off to them keep up the great work in a sometimes thankless job
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- Jamaal
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:07:33
Daily Commuter is absolutely right. The roads have been awesome this year. These drivers do not get the kind of praise that they deserve. I also would like to thank all of you for making the highways safer for those of us who commute to work. Keep up the outstanding work you've been doing. To the provincial government, I say don't ever cut back funding in this department, and make sure you continue to pay these guys well. You cannot put a price tag on the excellent job that they do. Safety is priceless.
