Clearwater RCMP responded to 19 calls for service this past week.
On Oct. 26, at 10:41 p.m. an Abbotsford man called the RCMP to report a collision on Highway 5, eight kilometres north of Vavenby, B.C. A 2021 Freightliner Cascadia tractor with Alberta plates registered to a logistics company from Rocky View, Alberta loaded with juice, was found upright, in the northbound ditch. The tractor was not drivable.
The driver, and owner/operator out of Beaumont, Alberta was concerned that the juice would freeze. A heavy towing company was called by the driver about this incident and was en-route. Const. Meyer attended and observed that the new paved roads were dry also noticing that the tractor trailer unit gradually went off the road to the right, with no skidding or swerving.
There were narrow, soft shoulders in this area of the highway. Extensive damage to tractor, and the trailer ripped open at the front.
The fuel tank for trailer was also noted to be leaking (tank holds 150L fuel) and a fence was run over in the 3300 block of Yellowhead Highway South. Const. Meyer contacted the driver who advised that a “deer” ran out in front of him, a vehicle was driving by in the opposing lane so he pulled to the soft shoulder getting sucked into the ditch.
There were no witnesses to the incident and it is unclear why the driver would swerve to miss a deer rather than simply hit it, as there would be significantly less damage incurred. The driver did not have any injuries, caught a ride to Kelowna with a passerby and will fly home to Alberta.
Const. Meyer contacted the operator at the heavy towing company and he will drive up and protect the load, arrange for permits and flaggers for the removal of the vehicle in the morning. Const. Meyer obtained photos, and wrapped the area in police tape. A collision report was completed, and a copy e-mailed to driver/owner.
On Oct. 27 at 9:31 p.m. a Clearwater man called the RCMP to report a possible impaired driver on Highway 5 at Hoirup Road near Vavenby, B.C.
A white 2019 Freightliner tractor and trailer just jumped a line up and drove around ten stopped vehicles, disregarding the traffic/construction signage put out. The complainant was from a local heavy towing company and doing a wreck removal at a collision scene. He had the vehicle stopped and requested police check the sobriety of the driver.
Const. Meyer attended and spoke with the driver, a Prince George man who was a truck driver in Australia, and just got his B.C. drivers licence a week ago. The driver thought he was able to drive slowly around the vehicles. There were no notable signs of intoxication observed.
The mandatory Alcohol Screening Device demand was read and understood with a “0” result. Const. Meyer advised the complainant of the results who was satisfied with the action taken by police and was good with letting the driver carry on without any violation tickets.
Sgt. Grant Simpson is the detachment commander of the Clearwater RCMP
