Car versus tire
On April 8 police were called to the scene of a crash just south of Blue River. The caller didn't know if there were injuries, but stated police were needed as the scene was a mess. Police and ambulance attended the crash not knowing what to expect.
It turned out that a couple from Grand Prairie was southbound when one of the rear tires on their vehicle sheered off and collided head-on with a northbound vehicle, causing substantial damage but thankfully no injuries. The driver of the southbound vehicle caught a ride into Blue River, then took a bus to Kamloops, rented a car and returned to Blue River to pick up his family and continue on their journey.
Ironically the family that was hit was also from Grand Prairie and they were heading for home when this unfortunate mishap occurred - quite a way to get acquainted with fellow residents!
If you happen to come across a crash, it would be very helpful if you could ascertain if there are any injuries or what services are actually required. In this case the ambulance responded and was not required. This tied up a very important asset for several hours. We certainly encourage the call, but it helps tremendously if the responding members have an idea what they are going to.
The cause of this crash was peanuts?
Also on April 8 RCMP were dispatched to a single vehicle crash near Clearwater. The driver of a U-Haul truck obviously did not want to be outdone by the story of a head-on with a rogue tire.
He stated that he was southbound on Highway 5 when he ate a handful of peanuts, then drank some water to wash it down. They must have gone "down the wrong pipe". He started to choke, then blacked out and simply drove off road left, through the intersection at Jenkins Road, through a ditch near Ford Road, then finally came to rest in some bushes in someone's yard.
The driver was taken to the Clearwater Hospital where he spent the night under observation.
Bike stolen
On April 9 it was reported that a black and silver "Rocky Mountain" mountain bike with thick tread tires was stolen from the mall area in Clearwater.
This is a reminder that it is a good idea to record the serial number from your bike and keep it handy for just this type of occasion.
If you have recently seen someone come into the possession of a new bike, or have any other information regarding this incident, please contact the RCMP or Crimestoppers.