By paNOW Staff

Several factors make Hwy. 55 dangerous say locals

Oct 15, 2010 | 4:54 PM

Andrew de Souza

paNOW Staff

Locals say there are quite a few things that make Highway 55 outside of Prince Albert a dangerous road that could have played a factor in the fatal collision earlier this week.

On Oct. 13, at around 6:30 p.m. a multi-vehicle collision resulted in the death of one woman the hospitalization of 4 others. Police say none of the people involved were from the Prince Albert area.

Also, earlier this month a pedestrian was struck while walking on the side of the highway.

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According to residents who live near the accident interviewed by paNOW, the highway has several recurring problems.

The most obvious is that drivers are often speeding, in both directions. Near the scene of the accident, the road has a posted speed limit of 100 km/h. However, just a few hundred meters to the west, it is 90 km/h.

Residents say that limit is often well exceeded.

“Usually people, as soon as they get past the park (outside of Prince Albert), they’re driving over the speed limit all the time,” said Mary Stasiuk.

Stasiuk’s neighbour Cathleen Hutchison said in addition to the speed there was a number of approaches where cars slowed down and could confuse drivers unfamiliar with them.

“You have all these roads going off the highway, that’s the part that makes it very difficult,” said Hutchinson. “They’re coming from both directions, pass you and that can be very difficult and awfully hard if people don’t know this highway.”

Another concern is the amount of wildlife, said local Kim Morrall.

“There are lots of wildlife that scamper across the road and I know because I’ve had to swerve more than once,” said Morrall.

Police continue to investigate the Oct. 13 collision.

adesouza@rawlco.com