A high-risk patient transport turned into a life-or-death emergency Tuesday when a ground ambulance collided with a tractor on Highway 9 northeast of Calgary, forcing paramedics to call in Stars Air Ambulance to complete the critical transfer.
The collision occurred around 12:30 p.m. near Beiseker, at the intersection of Highway 9 and Range Road 254—roughly 50 kilometres northeast of Calgary in Rocky View County, near Beiseker Airport.
The ambulance was actively transporting a patient in critical or unstable condition between health-care facilities when the crash happened. According to Airdrie RCMP, both vehicles were heading west on Highway 9 at the time, with the ambulance operating with full lights and sirens engaged.
From Ground to Sky
After impact, Stars Air Ambulance was immediately dispatched to take over the patient transfer. The critically ill patient was airlifted directly to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary to continue emergency treatment.
The paramedic crew inside the ambulance did not escape injury. Both the driver and the paramedic attending to the patient inside the vehicle suffered injuries. The driver was transported by ground ambulance in serious but stable condition, while the attending paramedic sustained less severe injuries.
RCMP did not confirm whether the tractor operator sustained any injuries in the crash.
Investigation Underway
Highway 9 remained closed at the intersection while emergency responders and investigators worked the scene. Both RCMP and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) have launched concurrent investigations into the collision, though details remain limited as the probe continues.
WestNet News staff contributed reporting to this story. Original reporting by Global Calgary.