FOUR fatal crashes – one on Friday and three on Sunday – on BC highways unfortunately ushered in the new year and RCMP are reminding all motorists to exercise caution by slowing down, as road and weather conditions can change rapidly and without warning.
“Reducing speed lowers your chance of being injured or killed in a collision. Ensure your vehicle is equipped with proper winter tread when venturing out on BC’s highways this winter,” advised the BC RCMP on Monday.
1. On Friday, January 4, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a two-vehicle fatal collision was reported on Highway 1 approximately 20 kilometres west of Field. Police determined that an eastbound passenger vehicle with two female occupants crossed the centre line and collided with a westbound transport truck. The female passenger in the sedan (an Alberta resident) was killed as a result of the collision. The driver of the sedan sustained serious injuries while the driver of the transport truck was uninjured. The collision remains under investigation by Trans Canada East Traffic Services (Golden), the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service and the BC Coroners’ Service. Weather, road conditions and driver experience are being considered as possible contributing factors to this crash. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact Trans Canada East Traffic Services at 250-344-2221.
2. On Sunday, January 6, at approximately 1 a.m., Deas Island Traffic Services attended a single-vehicle collision on Highway 99 (northbound) just north of Steveston Road in Richmond. Police determined that a northbound vehicle with a lone female occupant left the roadway, collided with a highway sign and landed upside down and partially submerged in the water-filled ditch adjacent to the highway. The female driver was from the Lower Mainland area. There is no indication that another vehicle was involved in this collision. It was raining heavily at the time of the crash and road / weather conditions as well as driver experience are being considered as possible contributing factors to this crash. Deas Island Traffic Services and the BC Coroners’ Service continue to investigate. Witnesses are being sought and anyone who has information regarding this collision is asked to call Deas Island Traffic Services at 778-290-2400.
3. Also on Sunday, at approximately 5:40 a.m., Fernie RCMP received a report of a three-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 3 approximately one kilometre east of Fernie. Police determined that a westbound vehicle driven by a lone male occupant crossed the centre line and collided with an eastbound commercial van and a second vehicle that was following the van. The driver of the westbound vehicle, who did not have his seat belt on, died in the collision. The two occupants of the van sustained non-life threatening injuries and the lone driver of the third vehicle was not injured. East Kootenay Traffic Services (Cranbrook), the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service and the BC Coroners’ Service continue to investigate this crash. At the time of the collision it was snowing heavily and there was snow accumulation on the highway. Road / weather and driver experience are being considered as possible contributing factors to this collision. Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact East Kootenay Traffic Services at 250-420-4244.
4. In a third fatal accident on Sunday, North Okanagan Vernon RCMP responded to a three-vehicle fatal collision on Highway 97 near Birnie Road, south of Vernon at approximately 3:05 p.m. Three southbound vehicles collided after one vehicle attempted to pass two other vehicles. One of the vehicles being passed was hit and its driver lost control and struck a rock face. The passenger in the car that was hit died in the ensuing collision. North Okanagan Vernon RCMP, the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service and the BC Coroners’ Service continue to investigate. Driver inexperience is being considered as a possible contributing factor to this collision. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call North Okanagan Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171 and quote file 2019-405.
