Wapiti Bridge crane crash leaves worker missing after 50-foot plunge near Grande Prairie
A worker remains missing after a 300-ton crane crashed through the railing of the Wapiti Bridge and plunged about 50 feet into the Wapiti River south of Grande Prairie on June 16, 2026. The Wapiti Bridge crane crash has prompted an extensive multi-agency search and an immediate workplace safety investigation. Emergency crews, marine vessels and air support scoured the river and banks but had not located the driver by late Tuesday.
Search and rescue effort on the Wapiti River
Emergency responders were dispatched to the Wapiti River Bridge on Highway 40 just after 9 a.m. on June 16, 2026, following reports that a heavy crane truck had gone through the bridge railing. RCMP, local fire departments, emergency medical services and marine units carried out surface searches and checked nearby riverbanks for signs of the operator.
A helicopter was brought in to assist visual searches from the air, but crews were limited by the lack of regional rescue divers for underwater operations. Officials confirmed the crane remains submerged and that no witnesses reported seeing the driver resurface during initial searches.
Details of the crane and the crash
Local authorities said the vehicle involved was a 300-ton crane truck that breached the bridge barrier and entered the water below. The operator’s status was described as unknown by Cpl. Mathew Howell, public information officer with K Division RCMP, as responders continued to search the scene.
Responders worked to secure the area while making assessments about salvage and recovery options, but the full scope of equipment needed to raise a submerged heavy crane was not immediately available at the scene. Recovery specialists and heavier lifting resources are typically required for such operations given the vehicle’s size and weight.
Location, road conditions and recent upgrades
The crash occurred on Highway 40 at the Wapiti Bridge, approximately five kilometres south of Grande Prairie, in a stretch that marks the boundary between the County of Grande Prairie on the north side and the Municipal District of Greenview on the south bank. The site sits at the bottom of a steep descent that transitions into a sweeping S‑turn leading onto the bridge.
Highway 40 and the Wapiti Bridge underwent substantial improvements that were completed in December 2025, following an earlier phase of work in 2021 that formed part of a $168-million program to widen the highway and construct a new bridge to accommodate traffic in both directions. The posted speed limit on the approach is 90 km/h.
Traffic management and immediate impacts
Highway 40 was closed for several hours as personnel worked to search for the missing driver and secure the scene, with the southbound lane later reopened after initial operations. Local authorities coordinated traffic control measures while ensuring public safety around the crash site and ongoing search activity.
Paramedics and municipal crews remained on site during the closure to assist with search efforts and to evaluate any structural impact to the bridge before allowing normal traffic flow to resume. Officials have not reported any long-term structural damage to the bridge pending further inspection.
Investigations and workplace safety notification
Canada’s Occupational Health and Safety was notified of the incident and has been informed that a formal investigation is underway, as required after a major workplace accident involving heavy machinery. The RCMP has been leading the on-scene response while officials from provincial workplace safety regulators and municipal authorities coordinate follow-up inquiries.
Investigators will examine vehicle condition, operator certification, load handling, bridge barrier performance and road approach factors, including speed and visibility on the descent and S‑turn that leads onto the bridge. Any findings from those inquiries could inform recommendations for infrastructure or operational changes at the site.
Community response and next steps
Local fire departments and municipal officials assisted with searches on the river and shore, while affected residents monitored the scene and traffic disruptions. Authorities asked the public to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency crews to work and to prevent interference with the search and recovery operation.
Officials said additional salvage and underwater search resources would likely be required to recover the vehicle and determine the final outcome for the missing worker. Further updates on the search, road access and the status of the investigation were expected as agencies continue coordinated efforts.
The RCMP has confirmed the status of the driver remains unknown and requested anyone with information or relevant dash-cam or roadside footage from the Highway 40 area on June 16, 2026, to contact investigators to assist with the ongoing inquiry.
