'It was crazy': Explosion engulfs semi in collision that closed Trans-Canada for hours

One man is dead after a fatal crash that closed lanes on theTrans-Canada Highwayjust east of Canmore, Alta.

Just after 12a.m. Thursday, NakodaAmbulance Service and CanmoreEMS were called to the eastbound lanes of Highway 1 between Dead Man's Flats and Highway 1X for reports of a collision.

RCMP said a semi-truck was heading eastboundwhen it struck another semi parked on the side of the road near the Lac Des Arcs exit causing one of thevehicles to catch fire.

EMS spokesperson Stuart Brideauxsaid themale driver of the stationary semi was declared dead at the scene.

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ShubirShaikh was driving alongside the moving semi on his way home toCalgaryfrom Vancouver when he witnessed the crash. Shaikh said hisvehicle was also hit in the collision, forcing him into the ditch and into the westbound lanes of the highway.

He saw the moving semi burst into flames.

"It was crazy, the explosion was so loud,"Shaikhsaid."Like, I didn't realize a vehicle could actually explode like that. It was so big that I felt the heat through my windows. It was that crazy."

A male passenger ofthe stationary semi in his 40s and the male driver of the other semi, a man in his 30s, were injured in the crash. Both men were taken to the Foothills Medical Centrein serious, but non-life threatening condition.

Brideauxsaid a STARS air ambulance wasplaced on stand-by but was not required to transport the injured men.

Following the crash, the Trans-Canada Highway was closed in both directions for several hours. By 9 a.m., it had fully reopened.

RCMP are still investigating what led to the collision.

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