Yahoo Finance Teacher dies when semi loses 8-wheel dolly in southwest Edmonton
A teacher with Edmonton Catholic Schools was killed in southwest Edmonton Wednesday morning when her minivan was hit by a tandem dolly that had become detached from a semi-trailer.
Chief superintendent Robert Martin acknowledged the death of Grade 5-6 French immersion teacher Meghan Weis at a board meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Weis, 36, taught at Our Lady of the Prairies elementary at 17655 64th Ave.
"Her smile was as big as her heart," school principal Nicole Falcone-Dempsey wrote in a letter to parents.
"She was loved by her colleagues and students and was truly a shining light to all who knew her.
"She will be missed and has forever left a lasting mark on our hearts."
The eight-wheel, tandem-axle converter dolly separated from a semi-trailer as it travelled west on Lessard Road near the Anthony Henday Drive overpass, police said.
The dolly crossed the median into opposing traffic and hit the driver's side of the eastbound minivan just after 7:30 a.m.
Weiss was declared dead at the scene, police said.
Charges are pending against the 66-year-old man driving the semi-tractor unit.
It's the second time in two days a vehicle has been hit by wheels lost by a semi travelling in the area.
On Tuesday morning, a dual wheel flew across Anthony Henday Drive south of Lessard Road and struck the windshield of a commercial truck.
The cab of the truck was crushed, but the driver managed to pull over to the side of the road, escaping with minor injuries.
On Twitter Wednesday, police said the owner of the truck that lost its dual wheel contacted EPS after realizing the wheel was missing. The traffic section continues to investigate, police said.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton police commercial vehicle investigation unit is currently conducting a series of checks on city roadways.
Police said Wednesday that in a two-hour period Tuesday, 12 truck and trailer combinations were stopped and inspected.
The checks led to the discoveries of 46 violations resulting in $3,400 in fines. Ten vehicles were taken out of service while two passed.
On Oct. 22, police stopped and inspected 15 vehicles. Ten were put out service, two vehicles required attention and three passed inspections, police said.
On Oct. 20, 22 vehicles were stopped and inspected. Ten were put out of service, three required attention and nine passed.
