Woman killed by transport truck while trying to help injured driver

A 33-year-old Burton woman was struck and killed by a transport truck on Tuesday after she stopped to help a driver who had rolled into a ditch.

The crash happened around 5:30 p.m.on the westbound shoulder of the Trans-Canada Highway near Havelock, about 50 kilometres west of Moncton.

RiverviewRCMPsaid thewoman and another driver stopped to help an injured driver,whose moving truckhad slid offHighway 2 and rolled into the ditch. The driver of the moving truck had climbed up to the shoulder.

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At the same time, atransport truck travelling westtried to move into the left-hand lane, away from the stopped vehicles on the right.

The transport truck "jack-knifed," causing the trailer to strike all three drivers standing on the highway, police said.

"It's very unfortunate," said Patrick Tardif, commander for the Riverview Detachment. "People trying to help people and this type of thing happens."

Weather likely a factor

The woman,who had been living in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., died at the scene, police said.

The drivers of the two other smaller vehicles were both taken to hospital with serious injuries.Tardif said the injuries are not life-threatening.

He said the driver of the transport truck was not badly injured, but "pretty shaken up."

After the crash, traffic was diverted from the area for four hours.

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Police said the investigation is continuing but they believe weather was a factor. Much of the province was hit with snow and high winds throughout Tuesday, and some roads were slippery.

Tadifsaid there were a lot of crashes in the area during the storm.

"At that time it was switching from snow to rain and there was a lot of slush on the road," he said.

"We can't stress enough how dangerous the highways are and to be cautious when you see people or vehicles [on the side of the road]."

Police haven't named the woman who was killed but said next of kin have been notified.