Million-dollar alley takes another toll, with six sent to hospital
By Kyra Hoggan
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 https://castlegarsource.com/node/4606 and https://castlegarsource.com/node/5683 and https://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.
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