EMS asks public to part of the solution

By Lethbridge Herald on May 8, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services and Lethbridge Police Service are joining forces to improve safety, ease traffic congestion, and support efficient emergency response, by reminding residents what to do following a minor motor vehicle collision.

During a press conference Wednesday, LFES Platoon Chief of Platoon A, Shawn Folk, said that many close calls during emergency responses have highlighted the need to engage with the community about what needs to be done following a motor vehicle collision. 

“As first responders, our teams have recently encountered several close calls when vehicles involved in collisions were left in live traffic lanes,” said Folk

Motorists can help keep everyone safe, including first responders, by taking the right steps after a crash.

Folk added that part of keeping people safe involves doing your part as someone driving by. Residents should slow down when emergency vehicles are on scene. 

“That protects the people that are on the scene and the citizens that need our help,” said Folk. 

He also said that by doing this, residents become part of the solution instead of becoming part of the problem. 

“We want everyone to be safe, so when we come across a motor vehicle collision, we want to make sure people have safety checks in place,” said Folk. 

He said people should check if it’s a fender bender and if it is, make sure to clear the road and get out of harms way. 

If your vehicle can be safely driven, move it to an area of safety like a nearby parking lot, side street, or shoulder. This reduces the risk of additional collisions, keeps traffic flowing and ensures emergency services can access the scene if needed.

“Another part is exchanging information,” said Folk. “Sooner or later you will need to have that information for your insurance companies, so if you can do it on a friendly basis, without pointing blame, gather that information as it makes your process a bit easier.”

The information gathered should include licence plate numbers, as well as the make, model, year and colour of each vehicle, insurance provider and policy number and collision details like time, date, and exact location of the incident.

Unless injuries are reported, public property is damaged, or there is ongoing danger, emergency services are generally not dispatched to minor collisions. 

“But if you have been part of a minor fender bender and after you check on people you realize that someone is injured, off course initiate 911 because we want to get them the help they need,” said Folk.  

Sergeant Tony Ramotowski with the traffic response unit said people should report a collision if the combined damage appears to be more than $5,000. 

“If the damage is more than $5,000 combined, you need to attend the CRC (Collision Report Centre), within 24 hours of the collision to provide your documentation,” said Ramotowski. 

How people can estimate if the damage is more or less than $5,000? Ramotowski said nowaday,s vehicles are so high -ech that as soon as the airbag goes off, the bill is already that high. 

“When we talk about a fender bender, something that is drivable, is usually under $5,000 and those are the ones that you don’t need to report. Just exchange information with the other driver and contact your insurance.”

He added that even if it is a minor fender bender but there is a suspicion of an impaired driver, or someone is injured, residents should contact 911. 

To report collisions above $5,000 in damages, people can begin the process online at https://reportacollision.accsupport.com/ and complete it in person at the CRC, which is located at the Lethbridge Police Station. 

LPS asks those involved in a collision to report it in the jurisdiction where it took place.