SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A semi-truck collided with a bison on Highway 3 Tuesday morning, leaving the bison dead and the truck in the ditch.

Leon Lafferty was driving from Behchoko to Fort Providence when he came upon the collision about 270 km from Yellowknife right after it occurred around 11 a.m.

"It looks like the truck tried to avoid the bison, but upon impact, there was enough resistance to make the truck lose traction and it went into the ditch and jackknifed when it came to rest," he said.

Lafferty said the road was icy with a fresh layer of snow.

The truck belonged to Rowe's Construction, which has offices in Hay River and Fort Simpson.

Calls to the company were not returned by press time.

Earl Blacklock, spokesperson for the Department of Transportation, said it was the first collision with a bison that he's heard of this year.

In 2009, there were 20 bison collisions. The numbers for 2010 haven't been compiled yet.

Blacklock said it's especially common at night because bison aren't reflective like some other animals.

"They appear before you as this dark mass on the road," he said.

Blacklock said the animals are making their way closer to the city, with most of the collisions happening on the Yellowknife side of Frank Channel.

To avoid similar collisions, Blacklock suggests people drive during daylight hours, and when that's not a possibility, drivers should reduce their speed to accommodate for the extra risk.

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