Alsask Bus Service is continuing its service between Calgary and Alsask on weekdays, with stops in Drumheller.

Mailphoto By Patrick Kolafa

Drumheller residents wishing to take a bus to Calgary are now able to, now that Alsask Bus Service has stepped up to the plate.

This comes after recent announcements that the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) was cut the by the Saskatchewan Government, and the route from Calgary to Saskatoon was closed.  

Alsask Bus was operating with STC to provide the service. It would operate from Calgary to Alsask, and then STC would continue the trip to Saskatoon.

    As of Monday, June 19, Alsask Bus has independently picked up the passenger route from Calgary to Alsask and has daily passenger series. They have released the summer schedule, and residents wishing travel from Drumheller to Calgary can catch the bus at 9:10 a.m. The bus from Calgary to Drumheller departs the city at 3:45 and arrives in Drumheller at 5:40 p.m. weekdays.

At this point in time, the service heading east terminates at Alsask.  Dhirender Negi of NN News, where the bus will continue to stop, says operators are still looking at how they are able to extend the service from Alsask to the Saskatoon. However at this time, those wishing to head to further into Saskatchewan will first have to travel to Calgary.

NN News’ Greyhound freight service has continued uninterrupted.

On Friday, June 9 at 7:36 PM, Beiseker RCMP, Alberta Sheriffs, Carbon Fire, Linden Fire Departments and EMS were dispatched to a collision on Highway 21, approximately 2 kilometres north of the Highway 9 intersection.  

Initial reports are that extreme weather, including heavy hail and rain was occurring at the time of the collision between a southbound vehicle with 3 occupants and a northbound SUV with 1 occupant. 

Upon arrival, it was determined that STARS air ambulance was required for one of the patients and an alternative landing zone was set up due to inclement weather in the area of the collision.

  Tragically, a 16-year-old female passenger was pronounced deceased on scene. A 67-year-old female was transported to the STARS landing zone and was then airlifted to a Calgary area hospital with critical potentially life-threatening condition.  A 43-year-old female was transported by ground ambulance to a Calgary area hospital in serious non-life threatening condition. 

 The lone 58-year-old female driver of the Northbound SUV was transported to Three Hills hospital in non-life threatening condition. 

A Collision Analyst was contacted and is currently on scene investigating.  Traffic on Highway 21 was rerouted for a short time and was cleared. 

The name of the deceased will not be released by RCMP.  Beiseker RCMP would like to express their condolences to the family during this time.