Speed and wet roads are believed responsible for a number of accidents on B.C. highways, including a crash near Princeton that killed a Kamloops resident.
A spokesperson with RCMP South Okanagan Traffic Services could not be reached for comment, but media reports say a 57-year-old Kamloops man died Saturday night when a southbound white Mercedes left Highway 5A and crashed down an embankment.
The vehicle landed on its roof and was partially submerged in water. RCMP suggest speed played a factor in the accident. Anyone with information is asked to contact South Okanagan Traffic Services in Keremeos at 1-250-499-2250.
Saturday proved the busiest of the holiday weekend as emergency crews attended accidents on the Coquihalla and Trans-Canada highways.
RCMP Const. Chad Doucette said firefighters, police and paramedics were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision near Chase at about 6:40 a.m. Saturday.
The driver of one of the vehicles told police she crossed the centre line into oncoming traffic but is not sure why, said Doucette.
“It looks like the driver might have fallen asleep,” he said. At least two people were taken to hospital with unknown injuries.
Closer to Kamloops, Fire and Rescue was kept busy with at least five accidents on Saturday. Assistant chief Andy Philpot said six people were taken to Royal Inland Hospital when a vehicle rolled off the Old Merritt Highway. Seven people were travelling in the vehicle at the time. One of the injured was flown to RIH by air ambulance.
“It sounds like the one in the helicopter would have been the most serious,” said Philpot, adding he didn’t know the nature of the injuries.
Knutsford resident Paula Pick said the accident occurred on a bad corner along Napier Lake south of the Roche Lake exit.
She said there were several ambulances driving back and forth from the accident.
“There’s lots of accidents (on the corner),” she said. “And lots of near accidents.”
The corners are marked at 60 km/h but motorists rarely take them at that speed, said Pick.
Firefighters had no sooner packed up from the rollover than they were sent to a multi-vehicle collision on the Coquihalla south of the Logan Lake turnoff. Philpot said crews were cancelled en route, which usually means no one was badly hurt.
“Everyone was probably out of their vehicles (when first responders arrived),” he said. The other accidents were minor.
Philpot said heavy rain fell in the region early Saturday morning and likely made road slicks. The moisture causes oil to surface on the road following a dry spell.
The cooler weather has already caused slushy conditions on the Coquihalla at least once last week. He said people must slow down when roads aren’t dry.
“Just because (road signs) say it is 110 km/h doesn’t mean you should go 130 km/h,” said Philpot.
No major accidents were reported as of late Monday afternoon.
