A veteran chuckwagon driver and 14 horses are dead after his tractor-trailer smashed into a pickup truck Tuesday in northwestern Alberta.
Herman Flad, 68, died after one of the two vehicles crossed the centre line of Highway 2 near the town of Rycroft, about 70 kilometres north of Grande Prairie.
The accident happened around 2:30 p.m.
Flad was hauling horses at the time of the accident. He was reportedly on his way to a chuckwagon tour stop in Dawson Creek, B.C.
A man and child riding in the pickup truck were taken to an Edmonton hospital. The man has undetermined injuries and the child appears to be unharmed.
Flad was pronounced dead at the scene.
Some sports experts are calling the accident one of the darkest days for chuckwagon enthusiasts in Alberta.
The veteran driver had more than 35 years experience with a very distinguished driving record.
He won several major and prestigious chuckwagon events including the inaugural WPCA Pro Tour Championship, the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby, the Grande Prairie Stompede, the Klondike Chuckwagon Derby and twice won the Cheyenne Frontier Days championship.
Herman has qualified for the Calgary Stampede's sudden death championship final heat four times.
He was also the 1980 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby champion.
Flad is survived by his wife Jean, two sons and a daughter.
RCMP said alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the collision.
