A massive search and rescue operation is underway in Northern Alberta after a 300-ton crane truck plummeted 50 feet off Wapiti River Bridge, with the driver still missing as of Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency services responded shortly after 9 a.m. to the Highway 40 bridge south of Grande Prairie, where the heavy equipment had crashed through the bridge's safety railing and into the river below. Police, fire, EMS personnel and marine rescue vessels were quickly deployed to the scene.
Search teams combed the river's surface, banks and surrounding areas throughout the morning, but no sign of the operator has been found. Authorities confirmed no witnesses reported seeing the driver resurface from the water.
The crane remains fully submerged in the river. A helicopter was dispatched to assist in the search, though recovery efforts are being hampered by a critical shortage of rescue divers in the region. The lack of specialized underwater rescue personnel available locally has complicated response efforts.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges for emergency response in remote and rural areas of Alberta, where specialized rescue resources can be hours away. Authorities are continuing their search operation as of Tuesday evening.
This article is based on reporting from the Edmonton Journal.