Two big area MVAs; Samaritans save a life
By Kyra Hoggan
June 20 saw two significant motor vehicle incidents in the area.
The first was called in at roughly 12:10 p.m., according to Castlegar RCMP Cpl. Debbie Postnikoff.
She said RCMP responded to a multi-vehicle collision in the vicinity of Broadwater Road and Colview Road in Raspberry.
“It looks as though the vehicle was on Broadwater Road, hit the ditch, crossed Colview Road at an angle and clipped the side of a power pole, taking out the pole’s stabilizing cables,” she said. “It came to rest in the yard of a home in the 2500 block of Colview Road after hitting an SUV parked in the driveway, which in turn struck another parked vehicle.”
Robson Fire Department and BCAS attended, then the Castlegar Fire Department was called in to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the lone occupant/driver of the vehicle, a 68-year-old Castlegar man.
“They had to cut off the roof and the doors of the vehicle,” Postnikoff said. “It’s very lucky there was no traffic or pedestrians on either road at the time – and credit to the fire departments for their work and quick action.”
Neither speed nor alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash – in fact, Postnikoff said it appears a medical condition was the underlying cause.
Miraculously, the driver was uninjured, and was taken to Castlegar hospital for treatment then later released.
Later that day, at roughly 6:30 p.m., Salmo RCMP were dispatched by BCAS to a single vehicle accident on Hoghway 3 near the top of the Bombi summit, according to RCMP Cpl. Riordan Bellman.
“Salmo RCMP spoke with to a witness who stated he came around a corner and saw a large cloud of dust and an SUV was upside down in the middle of the road and was on fire,” Bellman said. “The witness got out and ran up to the vehicle … the male driver was seat-belted in and crushed inside the vehicle.
“Another passer-by helped cut the seatbelt and drag the male driver out,” he added. “The vehicle was totally engulfed (in flames) soon after the driver was freed.”
Bellman said it appeared the driver was suffering from diabetic issues, and was treated by paramedics then transported to hospital.
“Salmo RCMP would like to thank the two witnesses (who) pulled the driver from the wreckage and may have saved (the driver’s) life,” he said. “RCMP will be forwarding their names for recognition.”
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