Home »
Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cpl. Jeff Witzke
This past week, April 10 through April 16, Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 49 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.
Dangerous driving incident in Canal Flats under investigation
On April 10, Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a blue SUV that just drove into a residence off of Burns Avenue in Canal Flats. Additional calls were received stating that the same vehicle was now driving in a dangerous manner along Burns Avenue before it struck a large boulder and a power pole. The driver was trapped inside and the SUV was on fire; however, prior to the police arrival, bystanders and Canal Flats Fire Department were able to put out the fire and extract the driver from the vehicle. The driver was treated by paramedics and taken directly to Cranbrook for treatment. This incident is still under investigation.
Highway 1 closure and snowstorm causes havoc in Kootenay National Park
For the majority of this reporting week we saw a full closure of Highway 1 was and all traffic was diverted down Highway 93 through the Kootenay National Park and up Highway 95. This along with multiple overnight snowstorms meant Columbia Valley RCMP officers were dispatched to numerous motor vehicle collisions in the park including an overturned transport truck. Thankfully no one was injured. Some of these collisions did cause delays of up to an extra hour of drive time through the KNP.
One fatality in avalanche in Forster Creek snowmobile riding area
On April 15, Columbia Valley RCMP received an emergency SOS activation advising of an avalanche where one person was buried. Columbia Valley Search and Rescue was activated immediately and dispatched along with two helicopters to the scene. The buried person was located; however, they were unresponsive and unfortunately lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. The avalanche occurred in the Forster Creek snowmobile riding area near Thunderwater Lake. Our condolences go out to all effected by this tragic event.
– Cpl. Jeff Witzke is Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment commander
