An Edmonton police officer is in hospital after being hit by a truck on the Yellowhead Highway while investigating another collision.

Police say the officer was struck at about 3:45 p.m. MT Saturday as she investigated a crash on the highway, near the Victoria Trail onramp.

"It sends the shiver down the spine of anyone who works on the roads with traffic going by," said Sgt. Dave Thomson.

"We're here to do our job. We don't have, as many people think, eyes in the back of our head, and we're hyper-vigilant when we are out here working but when things happen, they happen fast and this incident is a result of that."

Thomson said the officer was thrown several metres by the force of the impact.

He said the constable with 10 years' experience was conscious and breathing when taken to hospital by ambulance. The extent of her injuries has not been released.

The crash was one of more than 180 in a 24-hour period as Edmonton was hit with the first major snowfall of the season.