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UPDATE: Power outage in Clearwater caused by pickup truck

RCMP report notes driver was under the influence of alcohol
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Crews work to clear some trees that were knocked down due to a motor vehicle incident. (Stephanie Hagenaars photo)

Clearwater residents living in the Strawberry Flats were without power fro several hours last Tuesday, due to a motor vehicle incident.

The power went out for 82 households around 7:38 p.m. A gold pick-up truck crashed into the trees at the corner of Clearwater Village Road and Swanson Road, after coming down the hill with speed. The vehicle hit a hydro pole, causing damage and breaking the power line.

Three people were in the vehicle, all with non-life threatening injuries. The 24-year-old driver and owner of the vehicle had a cut on his face and twice failed a breathalyzer test administered by RCMP, resulting in a prohibition. One passenger suffered a broken leg and the other had superficial cuts on their forehead. All are from Alberta, in Clearwater working on the Trans Mountain pipeline.

According to police, the occupants said they were going out for a drive after getting off of work. A witness to the incident said they saw beer cans fly out the truck windows and that the driver and truck smelled like alcohol.

Two BC Ambulances arrived on scene and took the occupants to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops as the emergency room at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital was on diversion.

The Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department was also on scene directing traffic while BC Hydro crews made the necessary repairs. The power was restored around 11 p.m.

Wednesday, July 13: Clearwater residents living in the Strawberry Flats are without power, due to a motor vehicle incident.

The power went out for 82 households around 7:38 Tuesday night. A grey pickup truck ran off the road and into the trees at the corner of Clearwater Village Road and Swanson Road. The vehicle appeared to have hit a hydro pole, causing damage and breaking the power line.

Three people were in the vehicle, all with non-life threatening injuries, and one had broken their leg. Two BC Ambulances arrived on scene. Both will have to make the trip to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops as the emergency room at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital is closed due to staffing shortages.

RCMP is on site, as well as the Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department, who are directing traffic while BC Hydro crews make the necessary repairs. Traffic is being rerouted at the bottom of the hill at Swanson Road towards Capostinsky ball diamonds.

While initial information from BC Hydro said power would be restored around 9:30 p.m., crews returned to the scene as the lights were still out for those in the Strawberry Flats area. The power was restored around 11 p.m.

Residents on Dunn Lake Road and in Blackpool also experienced power outages. Thirteen households west of Dunn Lake Road were without power when a tree fell on BC Hydro wires. Over in Blackpool, household power for nine customers in the 1600-2000 block of Old North Thompson Highway and 2000-2100 block of Mann Road also due to a tree on wires. Both outages were restored later that night.



newsroom@clearwatertimes.com

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BC Hydro crews are on site on Clearwater Village Road to restore power. (Stephanie Hagenaars photo)