Submitted by Sgt. G.D. Simpson
October 19
The Clearwater RCMP detachment received a call at 3:30 p.m. from an off-duty Emergency Health Services (EHS) member who reported that a truck had gone into the river off of Highway 5 near Skinner Rd, in Vavenby.
The EHS member, who witnessed the incident, advised that the driver, a 55-year-old Alberta man, was safely out of the vehicle and was wrapped in blankets in a warm vehicle. He was not suffering from any injuries.
Clearwater RCMP attended and located the vehicle, which was a blue GMC Sierra, with Alberta plates.
The vehicle entered into the river on a rock embankment and appeared to have left the roadway on the right side, straddled the rocks on a steep embankment and came to rest nose first into the river.
The witness described the same event to investigators.
EHS transported the driver to Clearwater hospital. A local tow company attended and determined they were unable to recover the vehicle at the time. They scheduled flaggers and recovery of the vehicle for the following day. The vehicle was flagged with police tape to prevent further calls during the wait.
Other than being cold and wet, the driver was essentially uninjured.
October 23
A local femal called the Clearwater RCMP at 6:50 p.m. to report a blue Ford F-150 that was unable to maintain its lane on the Old North Thompson Highway/Sunshine Valley Rd in Clearwater. Cst. Lockwood made further patrols for the vehicle starting from the registered owner’s residence.
He located the vehicle parked behind the Wells Gray Pub, idling.
The vehicle then proceeded up Clearwater Village Rd. Cst. Lockwood followed and observed that the vehicle was unable to maintain its lane, driving on the right shoulder well over the fog line. A traffic stop was initiated and the registered owner was identified as the driver through a valid B.C. Driver’s License.
Cst. Lockwood noted that the driver was slurring his words and could smell liquor emanating from his breath. An Alcohol Screening Device demand was read and the driver subsequently provided two breath samples, both of which were “fails.”
A Notice of Driving Prohibition for 90 days was issued and explained along with the vehicle impound notice.
The truck was impounded at Clearwater Towing for 30 days. The driver and his passenger, his 8-year-old daughter, were transported to his residence.
Clearwater RCMP responded to 24 calls this past week.
Sgt. G.D. Simpson is the detachment commander at the Clearwater RCMP detachment.
Anyone with information on a crime is encouraged to call Clearwater RCMP at 250-674-2237 or to report anonymously, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
newsroom@clearwatertimes.com
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