Clearwater RCMP responded to 26 calls for service this past week including a number of motor vehicle incidents.
Sgt. Grant Simpson, detachment commander for the Clearwater RCMP, reports that on Jan. 8, 2025 at 5:50 p.m. Const. Tobin came upon three people standing roadside on Highway 5 near Pye Road in the fog. Upon returning to them, the adult male from Parksville, B.C. advised that they had driven off the road in the intense fog as a consequence of him trying to find the switch for the fog lights.
“His 11-year-old son had a sore right shoulder with significant seat belt rash. The driver had called for BC Ambulance who advised of a 15-minute estimated time of arrival, and rather than remain roadside and wait, the three were driven to the hospital for assessment. Once they secured a hotel, the driver was driven back to the scene to collect their personal effects,” said Simpson. He was provided with the police file number, and tow information. An accident report was completed.
On Jan. 6, 2025, at 7:42 a.m. a local heavy tow operator called to report a collision involving an east bound logging truck owned by a Kamloops company and driven by a 60-year-old Barriere man that collided with a west bound tractor trailer unit owned by an Edmonton company, driven by a 29-year-old Edmonton man.
“Both vehicles came to rest in the west bound ditch on the north side of Highway 5," said Simpson. "Upon speaking with the driver of the logging truck, he advised that as he navigated the corner he was met by the oncoming truck in his lane. He advised he pulled to his shoulder to avoid the collision and at the final moment it appeared that the Edmonton driver tried to correct. The result was the Edmonton unit’s rear axle collided with the logging truck's front left steering tire, and its cab guard collided with the front driver's side of the Edmonton unit’s trailer.”
Photographs were obtained at the scene and the Simpson reported that the logging truck driver had minor injuries, while the Edmonton driver escaped with no injury, and claimed that there was no contact, though there clearly was.
Fire and Rescue, Highway maintenance and a local heavy tow company attended and subsequently cleared the scene.
Simpson said the Edmonton driver was issued a violation ticket for crossing a double solid line.
Sgt. Simpson also reported that on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 at 6:21 a.m., Clearwater RCMP were advised by Emergency Health Service B.C. of an accident on Highway 5 in Vavenby and that two semi-trucks were blocking both lanes of traffic.
"Const. Van Woudenberg attended and found a three-truck pileup blocking the highway. Tractor #1 was out of Edmonton, Alberta and was driven by a 27-year-old Edmonton man. Tractor #2 with B-train trailers out of Mission, B.C. was driven by a 37-year-old Ontario man.Tractor #3 was from Port Coquitlam and was driven by a 40-year-old Agassiz, B.C. man," Simpson said. "Highway maintenance, our local Clearwater and Barriere’s heavy towing companies were advised to deal with the icy roads and stuck trucks and Ministry of Transportation and Transit advised of the Highway 5 closure.”
Bystanders advised Const. Van Woudenberg that Tractor #1 had passed them at a high rate of speed and had jackknifed minutes later, blocking the highway. The driver of Tractor #2 had turned the corner and saw the truck across the road and had been unable to stop, crashing into Tractor #1. A few minutes later, Tractor #3 approached southbound, and had been unable to stop due to the icy roads as well and ditched his truck to avoid colliding with Tractor #1’s trailer. Driver of Tractor #1 was transported by ambulance to hospital for assessment as he complained of sore hips. While there were no other injuries, a violation ticket was issued to the driver of Tractor #1 for failing to keep right.
An accident report was completed, provided to all drivers and emailed to ICBC. Photos obtained at the scene were added to the police file.
