Holiday highway accidents

Police started the week off investigating a couple of motor vehicle incidents, the first involving a 52-year-old woman from Estoria, OR. Police were notified Monday morning June 10th at 9:23 a.m. that the Estoria resident had rolled her 1997 Honda Odyssey van into the ditch a few kilometres south of Toad River destroying the vehicle. The woman advised that neither she nor her passenger were injured as a result of the event and had already made alternate arrangements to fly home.
A few hours later Northern Rockies RCMP received a report of an injury at a motor vehicle collision at KM 885 of the Alaska Highway. Due to the distances involved the Watson Lake RCMP and EHS were dispatched to the scene of the single vehicle event. Watson Lake RCMP are investigating this collision with early indications the driver of the vehicle may have possibly fallen asleep at the wheel.
Early Tuesday morning at 2:25 a.m. police received a phone call from Greyhound Canada dispatch that the driver of their bus enroute from Whitehorse to Fort Nelson was experiencing difficulties with a possibly intoxicated female passenger who was causing a disturbance on the bus. Police were advised the bus was presently in the Liard Hot Springs area and the driver had already seized a quantity of liquor from the female. Police advised Greyhound dispatch that it would take considerable time for the police to respond to that location and remove the female from the bus. Greyhound dispatch advised it was the bus driver’s intention to eject the intoxicated female from the bus when they arrive in Toad River and then continue on to Fort Nelson. A short time later Greyhound dispatch advised police the female had settled down and was now behaving herself allowing the driver to let her remain on the bus to her final destination.
What a surprise…
another impaired driver!
Tuesday evening around 10:45 p.m. while police were conducting a Road Safety Check along Airport Drive at 52nd Avenue East they stopped a white 2005 Ford Econoline van. While speaking with the 63-year-old driver from Edmonton police detected the odour of liquor coming from inside the vehicle. When asked about this the driver admitted he had recently consumed two drinks prior to driving. As a result police obtained a roadside breath sample from the driver which resulted in a warning indication. Police impounded the vehicle and issued the driver with a 3-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving.
Less than an hour later at 11:25 p.m. at the same location police found another impaired driver. After stopping the white 2010 GMC Sierra and speaking with the 50-year-old driver from Grande Prairie police detected the familiar bouquet of liquor emanating from within the interior of the vehicle.
When quizzed about this the driver admitted he had recently consumed four beers. As a result police obtained two roadside breath samples from the driver resulting in failure indications on both occasions. Police impounded the vehicle for 30 days and issued the driver with a 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving.
Less than an hour later at 12:17 a.m. Wednesday morning police were dealing with another poor soul who wishes they had hailed a taxi for a ride home. Police stopped the White Ford F250 after it failed to stop at the stop sign at 50th Avenue South and Airport Drive. While speaking with the 36-year-old male driver from Prince George police noted signs of possible alcohol impairment. When questioned in this regard the driver advised he had been at the pub drinking. As a result police obtained two roadside breath samples from the driver, both of which resulted in failure indications. Police impounded the man’s vehicle for 30 day’s issuing him with a 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition from driving.
Alcohol related accidents down 40% since 2010
While on the subject of impaired drivers recent statistic’s from the University of Victoria Centre, for Addictions Research have confirmed that B.C.’s strict new impaired driving law is having  the desired effect. Less people are dying, being injured and less property damage incurred as a result of alcohol related motor vehicle crashes in B.C.
The number of fatal motor vehicle collisions involving alcohol has decreased by more than 40% since 2010, that translates into approximately 104 lives saved. Alcohol related motor vehicle injuries are down by 23% and likewise property damage is down by 19.5% much to the chagrin of those inconsiderate folks who continue to drink, drive and or complain about how draconian the new drinking driving laws are. In the end, the proof is in the lives saved, declining injuries and property damage incurred. These statistic’s are impressive and certainly a stride in the right direction to eventually ridding our roads of the scourge of impaired driving.
Nothing to eat, just another beer
Later Wednesday evening at 5:48 p.m. during the supper hour police were called to the P.T. restaurant to deal with an intoxicated patron displaying some exceptionally bad manners inside the restaurant. Police attended to the restaurant where they located a 54-year-old Fort Nelson man who had apparently been quite rude to some of the other customers inside the restaurant. When police approached the gentleman they quickly confirmed he was extremely intoxicated having spilled liquor all down the front of his clothing. When advised by police it was time to leave the intoxicated fellow told police he wanted to finish his drink before leaving the restaurant grabbing his beer spilling it all over the table before police could show him the way to the door. Police arrested the man for causing a disturbance transporting him to the police office where he was lodged in jail for several hours to sober up.
Finally police are investigating two disturbing instances of domestic violence from the weekend. Early this past Saturday morning police received a report of a Black Nissan Pickup Truck swerving all over Hwy #97 just before crashing into the ditch in front of the Super 8 Motel. While enroute to the scene police received a phone call from a woman reporting that while she was driving her truck her boyfriend pinned her foot to the accelerator with his hand causing the vehicle to speed up and veer out of control crashing into the ditch in front of the Super 8 Motel. Police attended to the scene where they located the sober 24-year-old female victim from Fort Nelson who explained to police she had been driving her boyfriend who had been drinking home when they became embroiled in an argument over event that had occurred earlier in the evening. The victim told police her boyfriend used his hand to reach down and push the accelerator to the floor causing the vehicle to rapidly speed up nearly striking the vehicle traveling in front of them. The victim advised police she used her other foot to apply the brakes avoiding a collision with the vehicle traveling in front of them before their own vehicle crashed into the ditch. Police quickly located the victims intoxicated boyfriend also from Fort Nelson walking nearby where he was arrested for Assault with a Weapon and taken into police custody. Both the victim and accused were examined by EHS and found to have suffered no injuries as a result of this incident. Followed the blood trail
During the early morning hours of June 16th at 2:17 a.m. police responding to a reported disturbance on 54th Avenue located an injured female outside laying up against a fence outside a residence. Police observed the female was moaning, covered in blood and appeared to have suffered significant trauma to her head and face. The 29 year old victim from Fort Nelson was able to tell police her boyfriend was responsible for her injuries having beaten her up. Police called for the services of EHS which attended the scene and transported the injured female to the hospital. Police located a blood trail leading from the residence to the females position with additional blood deposits located at different other locations outside the residence. Police knocked on the door of the residence which was answered by a blood covered male believed responsible for the woman’s injuries. Police confirmed the 26 year old Fort Nelson man’s identity before arresting him for Assault Causing Bodily Harm transporting him to the police office where he was lodged in jail pending further investigation. The victim of this serious assault remains in hospital while the accused appeared in court and was later released on his recognizance with several conditions to appear again in court at a later date to answer Assault Causing Bodily Harm charges in relation to this incident. Police are continuing their investigation into this matter having interviewed the victim, accused and several witnesses who have provided police with a clearer picture of this serious assault.
Staff Sergeant Tom Roy
Officer-in-Charge
Northern Rockies Detachment.

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