Semi Truck Drives Wrong Way on Highway 1 Near Mini Thni; No Charges Laid

Dash cam footage circulating on social media shows a semi-truck driving in the opposite direction of traffic on Highway 1 near Mini Thni earlier this month, an incident police say ended without a collision but briefly alarmed drivers along the busy corridor.

According to the Cochrane RCMP, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. on March 8. Police received reports of a semi-truck travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 1.

“Police located the vehicle and determined that the truck lost control in poor weather conditions and ended up in the opposite lane,” said Cst. Melanie McIntosh of the Cochrane RCMP in an emailed statement. “No vehicles collided. Police held traffic while the semi-truck returned to the proper lane of travel.”

No charges were laid, police said.

Dash cam video spreads online

Footage from a dash cam, reportedly captured around 7:08 p.m. near Mini Thni, shows the transport truck approaching vehicles head-on in what appears to be the passing lane of a divided section of Highway 1.

In the clip, the truck briefly flashes its headlights at an oncoming driver before continuing along the lane.

The video was later shared widely on social media, including the “Bad Calgary Drivers” Facebook group, where it drew hundreds of comments from motorists reacting to the near miss.

Some commenters expressed shock at how the truck could have ended up travelling against traffic on a divided highway, while others speculated about possible causes, including mechanical issues or a driver medical emergency.

One commenter suggested the truck may have lost control and crossed the median during slippery conditions before attempting to return to the correct side of the highway.

Police say truck lost control

RCMP say their investigation found the vehicle lost control in poor weather conditions, leading it to end up in the opposite lanes of travel.

Weather records from the area around the time of the incident show temperatures hovering around -1°C, conditions that can create icy surfaces even when roads appear clear.

Video of the scene posted later that evening to the Skilled Truckers Canada Facebook page shows the semi-truck pulled over on the roadside with an RCMP vehicle nearby.

Busy highway corridor

The section of Highway 1 between Canmore and Calgary carries heavy traffic, including large numbers of commercial transport trucks moving goods between Alberta and British Columbia.

Traffic volumes also tend to spike on Sunday evenings, when weekend visitors return from the Bow Valley to Calgary.