Fire crews responding to crash on Deerfoot arrive to see burning car, 'verbally aggressive' driver

Calgary fire crews responded to a driver trapped inside a vehicle ablaze on southbound Deerfoot Trail around the Calf Robe Bridge shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.

The car was involved in a multi-vehicle collision that closed down southbound Deerfoot Trail for a portion of the afternoon, according to a news release issued by the Calgary Fire Department. The CFD said Monday evening that all lanes have since reopened.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found a vehicle on fire in the left-hand lane of southbound Deerfoot Trail with one person inside. The CFD said they also found several other vehicles with "varying degrees of damage."

Firefighters were able to rapidly knock down the fire. The CFD said they then forced open the driver's-side door to access the person inside "as there was significant damage to the vehicle and multiple airbags were deployed."

"The driver reportedly became verbally aggressive towards the firefighters and jumped over the barricade into northbound traffic," the CFD said. "The driver then jumped onto the hoods of several vehicles that had slowed down in the northbound lanes."

A firefighter followed the person, at which point the driver "attempted to attack the firefighter," the CFD alleged.

Firefighters called police and managed to safely subdue the driver.

An EMS spokesperson said the adult driver was assessed at the scene and taken to Foothills Medical Centre in serious condition.

Six other people were also assessed at the scene but were not taken to hospital, according to EMS.

The CFD said no first responders were injured.

Police said they are investigating what happened.