UPDATED: Alberta woman hit by flying rock identified
By Contributor
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a woman who died after being struck by a rock which went through the windshield of a vehicle in which she was a passenger as Janice Cairns, aged 36, of Calgary, Alberta.
Cairns was a passenger in the front seat of the family vehicle, travelling northbound on Hwy 93/95 on the morning of Oct. 5, 2012.
At the Kootenay River Bridge at Canal Flats, a large rock was thrown up from the wheels of a truck-trailer unit travelling southbound.
The rock entered the passenger compartment of the Cairns vehicle through the windshield and struck Mrs. Cairns, killing her instantly. All others in the vehicle escaped physical injury.
Calgary woman dies after rock thrown from commercial vehicle strikes her in head
A Calgary woman is dead after a rock was thrown through the windshield of the vehicle she was traveling in striking the passenger in the head.
The accident occurred at 11:10 a.m. local time Friday at the Kootenay River Bridge on Highway 93/95 near Canal Flats.
A southbound commercial vehicle towing an unloaded lowbed trailer was on the bridge deck when it passed a northbound Subaru Legacy.
A large rock approximately 12 inches by 5 inches in diameter was thrown from the commercial vehicles dual wheels before landing on the windsheild of the Subaru.
The rock entered the passenger compartment through the front windshield striking the female passenger in the head.
The 37-year-old female later succumbed to her injuries.
The woman was on vacation with her husband and two small children.
The suspect vehicle was stopped some time later and seized.
The investigation shows that the rock appears to have been lodged between the dual tires on the trailer.
The driver of the commercial vehicle has been released at this time with no charges pending further investigation.
The East Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit and Columbia Valley RCMP will continue to investigate the accident.
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