Man, 70, killed on Deerfoot Trail shoulder, police say

A 70-year-old man was struck and killed while standing on the shoulder of northbound Deerfoot Trail in southeast Calgary on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 20, Calgary police said.

Police said the man was outside a pickup truck and trailer parked on the right shoulder just south of the 17 Avenue S.E. exit when he was hit shortly after 1 p.m., CTV News and CityNews Calgary reported. A Dodge truck towing a trailer, driven by a man in his 30s, veered onto the shoulder and struck the parked vehicle and the man, police said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver stayed at the scene and was not hurt, police said. The man who died has not been named.

Investigators believe the Dodge was in the centre lane and crossed two lanes while trying to take the 17 Avenue S.E. exit, CityNews reported. Police said they do not know why the victim had stopped and was outside his vehicle.

“We think there was a mechanical defect, but we don’t know at this stage,” Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward said, according to CTV News.

No charges have been laid, and investigators are speaking with witnesses and reviewing dashcam footage, CityNews reported.

Police said the man is the eighth pedestrian killed on Calgary roads in 2026, and CTV News reported he is the city’s 31st traffic death of the year.

The crash closed all northbound lanes of Deerfoot Trail between Peigan Trail and 17 Avenue S.E. for several hours on Tuesday. The road reopened just before 7 p.m., CityNews reported.

Woodward urged drivers whose vehicles break down on a major road to stay inside and call a roadside mechanic or police. “If we can attend, we will attend and give you some protection,” he said, according to CityNews. He also asked drivers who see a vehicle stopped on the shoulder to slow down and change lanes if they can. “Especially if you see a broken down vehicle, give a wide berth,” Woodward said.

Police are asking anyone who saw the collision or has dashcam video to call the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

Calgary is also dealing with the aftermath of a fiery Calgary Transit bus crash that killed three people, which led Calgary Transit to review the safety of its natural gas buses.

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Sources: Calgary Police Service via CTV News Calgary and CityNews Calgary.