It was a close call for an RCMP traffic officer in High River who was almost hit by a vehicle during a traffic stop earlier this week.

At 11:30 a.m. on April 29, an officer driving an unmarked police vehicle conducted a traffic stop on southbound Highway 2.

Driving conditions were good with clear visibility, the roads were dry, and the officer had his emergency lights on. Despite this, the unmarked police vehicle was struck by a passing Ford F350 when the officer was preparing a ticket.

According to the RCMP, no one was injured.

Photo of the RCMP cruiser missing a side mirror due to the collision.Photo of the RCMP cruiser missing a side mirror due to the collision. (Photo courtesy of Alberta RCMP)

"This officer is very lucky. This was inches away from being a terrible tragedy. Drivers need to pay attention while they are driving and follow the law when passing any stopped roadside vehicle with lights activated," Sgt. Darrin Turnbull with Alberta RCMP Traffic said in a media release.

The driver of the Ford F350 indicated that he hadn't seen the police cruiser or the flashing emergency lights.

RCMP would like to remind drivers that when driving in the closest lane to any stopped vehicle with flashing lights on such as police, ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks, and maintenance trucks, you must move over to the far lane to give workers extra space, including in construction zones. If you can’t safely move over, you must slow to at least 60 km/h or the posted speed limit.