Million-dollar alley takes another toll, with six sent to hospital

by Kyra Hoggan on 28 Jun 2012
in
Million-dollar alley takes another toll, with six sent to hospital

Castlegar’s ‘Million-dollar alley’ was the site of yet another crash yesterday, this time sending six people to hospital.

According to Castlegar RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew, it was roughly 3 p.m. when two vehicles collided head-on while travelling Highway 22 near Trowelex.

“A grey pick-up truck being driven by a 55-year-old man was exiting Minto Road to turn left (north) into Castlegar and pulled out onto the highway,” she said. “A blue Acura being driven by an 18-year-old Castlegar man was southbound on Hwy 22 and, in order to avoid broad-siding the grey pick-up truck, swerved, lost control and went into the oncoming traffic, hitting a northbound Lexus, being driven by a 74-year-old Vancouver woman.”

She said the grey pick-up was unscathed, while the three people in the blue Acura were taken to hospital with minor injuries, treated and released.

“The three elderly people in the Lexus were transported to hospital,” she added. “The driver was treated for bruising and shock and spent a night in hospital. A 71-year-old passenger was treated for bruising and released from hospital.

“A 104-year-old passenger remains in hospital with serious injuries, including a punctured lung and broken ribs.”

She said the driver of the truck is facing charges of Failing to Yield after Stop.

The Source has been covering the issue of Million-dollar alley and its disproportionate number of motor vehicle accidents since this time two years ago (see http://castlegarsource.com/node/4606 and http://castlegarsource.com/node/5683 and http://castlegarsource.com/news/motorcyclist-sent-hospital-after-crash-million-dollar-alley-19084 from May 2010).

Mathew said authorities are very much aware of the problem, and a solution is in the offing – perhaps as early as this summer.

“We’ve had lots of meetings and discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and we’re crafting solutions, but it’s way more complicated than just lowering the speed limit,” she said. “But we know there really needs to be a change and there really will BE a change, soon. A lot of work has gone into resolving this issue.”

New interchange plans could be unveiled as early as next month.

Comments

Let's be careful out there

by CordLaFond on 02 Jul 2012 at about 19:09.

C'mon People - not another unnesessary controlled intersection. I use that one all the time and the lines of sight are plenty adequate. Yes I have to wait for a sufficient break in the traffic, but seldom as long as waiting for a traffic light. Just have a little patience and don't 'try to make it' until there is room to go safely. You are exiting a side street in an industrial area onto a highway. Give yourself 30 seconds. Where are you going in such a hurry anyway?

I support stiffer sentences for D.A.A.R.* offenses, especially causing bodily harm.  We all had to pass a driver's exam. Let's drive like it.

OK - I know I'm gonna get some flak about this one, but I just had to voice my politically uncorrect opinion. They drive among us. Unfortunately, as tis instance shows, it is often the D.A.A.R. offender who goes unscathed and then gets a slap on the wrist. Then we pay the price of having to protect ourselves from them. Let's make driving a priviledge that you have to earn and maintain, not a right that we are owed by virtue of a pulse. Take this guy's license for six months and the next person will wait until it is safe to proceed.

Yes, I know there is a new subdivision, but I have a dangerous intersection where I live too. I'm aware of it and I have to use the sense that God gave a duck when I use it.

*D.A.A.R. = Dumb As A Rock