Person killed changing tire on Deerfoot Trail; police urge safer pullover tactics
A driver struck and killed Tuesday afternoon while stopped on the northbound shoulder. Police recommend pulling to the far side of safety barriers and calling for backup.
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One person is dead after being struck by a truck and trailer on the northbound Deerfoot Trail at 17th Avenue S.E. just after 1 p.m. Tuesday. The victim had pulled over to the shoulder to change a flat tire when the striking vehicle changed lanes to exit the roadway.
The driver of the striking vehicle remained at the scene and was fully cooperative with police. No charges have been laid so far. The victim's identity has not been released.
Traffic Unit Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward stressed the vulnerability of drivers stopped on Deerfoot's narrow shoulder. "There's a lot of concern for other motorists and obviously for the person who's broken down, because the hard shoulder itself, as we know, is nowhere near as big as a lane on the carriageway," Woodward said. "Nine times out of 10, if somebody is looking to change a wheel on the driver's side of the vehicle then they are going to be exposed to the lane that's actually on the carriageway itself."
Police recommend drivers attempting to pull over on Deerfoot try to cross to the far side of the metal barriers along the road. Drivers planning to change a tire can call police for assistance; an available unit will provide backup and visibility while the work is done.
HighOnCity reported in June that a person died after an officer-involved shooting on Deerfoot Trail S.E. near Memorial Drive S.E., and in July that police were seeking a hit-and-run driver following a rear-end crash on the same stretch.
What charges, if any, will be laid against the driver of the striking vehicle?
Has Deerfoot's shoulder design been reviewed following this incident and the earlier June shooting?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When and where did the fatal collision occur?
A person was struck and killed on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, on the northbound Deerfoot Trail at 17th Avenue S.E. just after 1 p.m. The victim had stopped on the shoulder to change a flat tire.
What do police recommend if you need to pull over on Deerfoot Trail?
Police recommend crossing to the far side of the metal barriers along the road. Drivers can also call police for assistance; an available unit will provide backup and visibility while tire changes or other roadside work is performed.
Why is the Deerfoot Trail shoulder particularly dangerous?
The hard shoulder on Deerfoot Trail is much narrower than a regular traffic lane, leaving drivers and their vehicles exposed to passing traffic, especially if they must work on the driver's side of the vehicle.
