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Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By Cpl. Grant Simpson
Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 64 calls for service over the past week. Here are just a few of them:
Elk dispatched after accident
On November 29, at 8:52 p.m., Columbia Valley RCMP received a report from a 51-year-old Invermere man advising that he had struck an elk on Highway 93/95 just south of Athalmer Road. He added that there appeared to be no damage to his Nissan Xterra, but that the elk was still alive and would need to be put down. Police responded to the report and after confirming that the vehicle was undamaged attended the area where the elk had been struck. Once on scene Police humanely dispatched the very large cow elk.
Vehicle ends up in McKay Creek
On November 30, 5:14 p.m. Columbia Valley RCMP received a report of a single vehicle accident in Kootenay National Park on Hwy 93 at McKay Creek. Park staff advised that the vehicle had ended up in McKay Creek and two occupants were inside with minor injuries. Police responded to the report and once on scene met with park staff and EHS who were treating the driver, a 56-year- old Calgary man, who had received a minor laceration above his eye.
He advised that while travelling westbound on Hwy. 93 coming down a steep incline and around a sharp curve in the road, he lost control of his vehicle and ended up going off road right into the ditch. The vehicle, a 99 R300 Lexus, ended upright in McKay Creek with both airbags deployed. As road conditions at the time of the accident were extremely slippery and no other vehicles were involved the driver was not charged.
Slippery hill cause of crash
On December 1, at 8:52 a.m., A 43-year-old Edgewater man called to report that he had just collided with two parked vehicles at the apartment complex on 11th Avenue near the Hillcrest. He stated that he was driving his Ford F350 down the steep hill from the Hillcrest parking lot to the lower complex when he lost traction and his truck slid down into the parking lot, striking a Ford Escape and a Toyota Camry. The driver left his information for the owners with the vehicles he had struck and attended the detachment.
Columbia Valley RCMP were able to get a hold of both owners. All parties were given information and instructed to call ICBC to start claims. The Ford Escape and the F350 were both drivable. The Toyota Camry was towed for repairs. The F350 sustained damage to the passenger side of vehicle where it came into contact with both vehicles. The Escape sustained rear bumper damage only. The Toyota sustained severe rear damage and a blown out back windshield. The driver took photographs, which were sent to police. The steep hill between the two apartment complexes was covered with recent snowfall and not sanded or graveled with less than desirable driving conditions. As such no Violation ticket was issued to the driver.
Long night after crashing into elk
On December 1, at 10:15 a.m., a 33-year-old Invermere resident called Columbia Valley RCMP to report that there was a male sleeping behind a local concrete business and it appeared that the male had been involved in a motor vehicle accident as there was a banged up Mazda Protege in the parking lot of the business.
Police attended and spoke with the 23-year-old Revelstoke man who was asleep in a sleeping bag behind the business. He reported that he had hit an elk around 2 a.m. last night, which totaled his vehicle. He then drove to the nearby business to await a friend who was coming from Revelstoke to pick him up. He had planned to wake up at first light; however, in his mountain-equipped sleeping bag, he overslept. He stated that he did not have a phone to report the accident but flagged down a highways truck that picked up the elk carcass. Damage to the Protege was consistent with striking an animal. Photographs were taken. The driver stayed at Skandia with the complainant who was allowing him to use the phone there and await his ride to pick him up. Police left the driver with numbers for local tow companies. He reported he was not going through insurance as the vehicle was only worth $650 and he is moving back to Australia. The driver suffered a minor cut to his hand and his air bags were not deployed. However, his front windshield was completely shattered.
