A tractor trailer went off the road, rolled down an embankment and burst into flames near Elko on Friday afternoon.
Amazingly, the driver, who doesn’t remember what happened, escaped with just a broken knee.
RCMP said they are not sure if he was thrown from the truck as it crashed down the embankment, or was pulled to safety by passersby.
The truck was heading westbound from Fernie on Highway 3 at 5:43 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, it veered off the road.
It crossed over the centre lines and went off the road on the left, rolling down the embankment, and landing on the train tracks below.
The truck, registered to a trucking company in Idaho, was not loaded at the time.
It was completely destroyed by fire.
“We are still unsure what happened, and how the driver got out of the truck,” said Sgt. Dave Dubnyk from the Elk Valley RCMP.
“There was no indication of any braking, such as skid marks on the road, and it doesn’t look like speed was a factor.
“But the driver doesn’t remember what happened so we think there may have been a medical issue that was involved.”
He was taken to hospital in Cranbrook.
Sgt. Dubnyk said the RCMP is not considering making charges against the driver.