Spectacular crash
At 8:20 a.m. on March 29, RCMP were called to the scene of a spectacular motor vehicle crash on Highway 5 at the Clearwater River Bridge. A five-ton truck hauling a load of potato chips was northbound on Highway 5 near the bridge when it veered across oncoming traffic and crashed into the end of the cement barricade at the south end of the bridge. The truck then rode up and slid along the top of the no-posts until it got onto the bridge rail itself. It continued to slide along the metal guard rail for approximately 30 feet before careening off the side of the bridge and free falling for at least 20 feet, crashing into the ground below. It then rolled down a steep embankment towards the river, coming to rest up against one of the bridge pillars. The driver crawled out of the tangle wreck to see smoke billowing from the truck. Within minutes if burst into flames which engulfed the entire vehicle until it was completely annihilated. Clearwater RCMP, Clearwater and Blackpool Fire Departments, Ambulance, Highways Department, Forestry, and Argo Road Maintenance all responded to this incident. The bridge had to be closed for several hours until bridge inspectors out of Kamloops arrived on scene and deemed the bridge safe to reopen. The driver who started the day with a variety of flavors of potato chips to deliver to local merchants, ended up with a load of smokey barbeque that were completely destroyed. He was extremely fortunate to walk away with minor injuries.
Break and enter
At approximately 5 a.m. on March 29 RCMP received a report of a break and enter into a local business. Someone kicked open two washroom doors, went in and ripped towel dispensers off the wall, and then left. It doesn’t appear that anything was taken. Good footprint impressions were obtained and sent to Kamloops Forensic Identification Section to be added to the unknown footprint databank. The file is still under investigation. If you have any information regarding this stupid act, please contact the Clearwater RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
A candidate for “Canada’s not so smart criminals”
On March 29 a member of the Clearwater Traffic Services Section was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 5 near Birch Island when a vehicle was clocked doing just over 140 kmh in the posted 100 kmh zone. A records check which was conducted on the driver after stopping the vehicle revealed the fact that the Kelowna man had an outstanding B.C. wide warrant out for his arrest for impaired driving. Not only did this person's lack of good sense get him arrested, but it also yielded him a healthy fine for his speed. If you aspire to make the list of “Canada’s not so smart criminals,” and possibly get yourself honorable mention in the local paper, simply travel any of our beautiful B.C. highways well above the posted speed limit while carrying out a criminal activity. You will most likely be accommodated.