Spring snowstorm wreaks ‘absolute chaos’ on Saskatoon streets
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A veteran of Saskatoon’s tow-truck trade sums up the scenario on town’s streets throughout a spring snowstorm with two phrases: “absolute chaos.”
Andrew Clewes, basic supervisor of Astro Towing Ltd., stated the corporate acquired 385 calls Friday, greater than twice the standard name quantity on a winter day, as town was pelted with a late dump of snow.
“This is the worst we’ve seen this winter,” he stated in an interview Tuesday. “It was non-stop.”
Saskatoon police responded to 77 calls about collisions Friday — the very best quantity recorded since Jan. 1, 2020. Police stated they acquired multiple name about some crashes however the variety of collisions is perhaps larger, not decrease.
“The total number of collisions in the city could be much higher as not all collisions need to be reported to police or require our assistance — for example, minor fender-benders that are dealt with between drivers at the roadside,” spokesperson Easton Hamm stated in an e-mail.
A collision between an SUV and a bus on the Taylor Street overpass occurred in the course of the morning commute Friday. About 25 centimeters of snow fell in the course of the storm.
The on-line police database reveals there have been 59 collisions recorded, with 54 incidents of property harm and 5 accidents, Friday. The earlier excessive for collision calls to Saskatoon police since 2019 occurred on March 27, 2025, with 59 recorded.
Police fielded 53 calls about crashes on Jan. 21 of this 12 months, the fifth-most since 2020.
Overall, the variety of crashes that required police to reply has dropped barely to date this 12 months in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months, from 1,744 to 1,708.
Total collisions recorded by Saskatoon police have steadily elevated during the last 5 years, from 3,984 in 2021 to five,113 final 12 months. Collisions elevated considerably in 2025, from 4,393 in 2024.
Those injured in crashes have steadily elevated, from 460 in 2021 to 585 in 2025.
Police information reveals 31 individuals have died in motorized vehicle accidents in Saskatoon within the final 5 years.
Clewes stated his firm’s 52 autos responded to 33 collisions inside the metropolis Friday and to 25 extra autos that merely obtained caught within the snow. Astro additionally responded to conditions exterior town.
Clewes’s message for drivers in Saskatchewan’s largest metropolis?
“Just be more prepared,” he stated. “Just slow down. Take your time.”
