Man Killed in Collision with Semi-Truck on Barlow Trail
A man in his 40s was killed Wednesday night in a collision with a semi-truck on Barlow Trail in southeast Calgary. The fatal crash is the city's 37th traffic-related death this year, marking 2025 as the worst year for road safety in Calgary in a decade.
The incident occurred on December 17, 2025. According to police, the man was driving a pickup truck northbound on Barlow Trail S.E. in the lane closest to the median, approaching the intersection at 26 Street S.E.
At that moment, a 2019 Freightliner semi-truck with an unloaded trailer, also driven by a man in his 40s, turned from eastbound 26 Street S.E. into the path of the pickup.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The pickup truck struck the rear corner of the semi's trailer and became entangled. Emergency crews responded, but the driver of the pickup sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi-truck driver was not injured and remained at the scene to cooperate with investigators.
Calgary police have ruled out alcohol and drug impairment as factors in the crash. While road conditions were severe on Wednesday due to winter weather, police do not believe they played a role in this specific accident. Investigators are examining whether speed was a contributing factor.
Calgary Police Cite Critical Shortage of Traffic Officers
This tragic event underscores a growing crisis in Calgary's traffic enforcement. At a Calgary Police Commission meeting on November 26, Inspector Rob Patterson, commander of the CPS traffic section, revealed that traffic response teams are operating at only 60 per cent capacity.
"We could use more people right now," Patterson stated. "Having a full 40 officers to deploy onto the street—we're sitting now at about 29 officers—would be more effective."
Police have consistently identified speed as the primary factor influencing serious collisions. This issue has been exacerbated by provincial changes to photo radar enforcement. The province ended the use of photo radar on provincial highways and restricted its use by cities to school, playground, and construction zones only.
This move eliminated 70 per cent of Calgary's photo radar technology, which the provincial government previously labeled a "cash cow and revenue-generating fishing hole."
Impact of Reduced Automated Enforcement
Calgary police have provided statistics showing the effectiveness of the now-curtailed automated enforcement:
- Photo radar reduced injury collisions by 25 per cent at the 20 most frequently deployed locations in the city.
- Intersection safety cameras contributed to a 50 per cent drop in right-angle collisions.
- Rear-end collisions fell by approximately 40 per cent across the city where cameras were used.
The city has managed to restore automated traffic enforcement at three intersections after receiving special permission from the province, but officials have stated clearly that this limited measure is insufficient to address the rising tide of fatal crashes.
As the investigation into Wednesday's fatal collision continues, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of traffic violence and the ongoing debate over how best to ensure safety on Calgary's roads.
