Between Jan. 15 and Jan. 21, Clearwater RCMP responded to numerous motor vehicle collisions, mostly due to the very icy road conditions in and around Avola.
Included in those collisions were a tractor-trailer unit that crashed into the North Thompson River near the Wire Cache rest area and has caused an ongoing Do Not Use order for the Vavenby water system.
In another incident, a tractor-trailer attempted to pull into the Wire Cache rest area and slid into the building. This caused significant damage and the closing of the rest area until further notice.
Lastly, through the early hours of Jan. 20, Highway 5 between Avola and Blue River was actually closed for some time as the road conditions were so bad it was difficult to move at all without sliding. Reports were that even at 40 km/h vehicles were sliding and unable to stop in many places. During the hours prior to the closure there were three reported collisions of tractor-trailers that could not be kept on the road.
Liquor in tractor-trailer
On Jan. 20 it was reported to police there were two people associated to a tractor-trailer which had left Little Fort after stopping. The two were seen purchasing a 12-pack of beer and drinking in the truck before leaving Little Fort toward Kamloops.
As police were unable to track down the tractor-trailer themselves, the information was given to the Kamloops weigh scales who were able to stop the men when they came through the scales on their way through Kamloops.
It was determined that while the driver was not impaired, there was still alcohol in the tractor, which is against the regulations for transport drivers.
The passenger, who was a “co-driver,” was sanctioned by the inspectors at the scales, and the alcohol was disposed of.
The RCMP would like to thank those who witnessed this incident, allowing for these two persons to be identified and dealt with.