For many motorists and first responders in Regina, Wednesday morning started with a fatal collision on Ring Road involving a pedestrian and a semi.
It’s a sight that may be impossible to erase.
“It's such a traumatic experience it would affect anybody and it affects everybody differently,” said Regina fire department deputy chief of operations David Kinvig.
Fire crews were tasked with cleaning up after the investigation concluded.
Kinvig says there's immediate critical incident support services and counselling available for any of their staff.
“We're only human. We're just like your neighbour living on the street,” he said. “These things affect us as much as any normal human being."
The driver of the semi is a Regina man with 30 years of driving experience. The company he works for, Manitoulin Transport, says in a statement, "there was absolutely nothing that our driver could have done differently that would have prevented the outcome from being any different."
The company says the driver is doing fair, but is having trouble sleeping.
Mental health experts say that after experiencing a traumatic event, it's important to focus on eating healthy and get enough sleep. They also recommend talking to friends and family, staying relaxed and avoiding caffeine and alcohol. Those still feeling unwell after a few days are advised to talk to a doctor.
“Some folks do find themselves developing an acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder if they've been a witness to something really traumatic," said psychologist Katherine Owens.
Regina police Const. Curtis Warnar was at the scene of Wednesday’s fatal collision.
"I talked to my colleagues about the experience," he said.
Police are still investigating why the victim was on the Ring Road during the busy morning commute. They say they won’t be laying any charges.
