RCMP in central Alberta said a highway patrol officer had to be taken to hospital Thursday, after he was hit by a semi that went out of control on Highway 2 near Red Deer.

An Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol Officer, with the QE2 Integrated Traffic Unit, was checking on vehicle occupants at the scene of a crash, when the officer was hit and injured by an out-of-control semi-truck.

The officer was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police said later that the officer remained in hospital in Red Deer, being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.

In addition, police said a tanker truck involved in another secondary crash rolled, and was leaking fuel early Thursday afternoon.

RCMP said Highway 2 was closed in the southbound lanes at Lacombe - the closure lasted for several hours but RCMP said after 4:30 p.m. that the affected area had been reopened.

Police are advising that travel on Highway 2 is not recommended – officers have been dealing with a number of serious injury collisions on that highway in the Red Deer area.