Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

FATAL CRASHES

Two fatal crashes on provincial highways over Thanksgiving long weekend

Oct 15, 2019 | 3:58 AM

SALMON ARM, B.C. — Two people were killed on BC highways over the Thanksgiving long weekend, but police say that’s fewer than the provincial average for this time of year.

BC RCMP Cpl. Mike Halskov says there were two fatal crashes in the province over the long weekend.

“(That) is about half the number that’s usually the trend that ICBC reports happen on a yearly basis,” Halskov says. “So from that aspect although two people have lost their lives, and that’s two too many, it is fewer than the provincial average.”

One of the crashes occurred Friday morning (Oct. 11) roughly 14 kilometres west of Salmon Arm.

“It involved a head-on crash with a pickup truck and a semi,” Halskov says. “The driver of the pickup truck, a man from the Okanagan area, he passed away as a result of that crash, and impairment has not been ruled out as a contributing factor.”

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The other fatal crash this weekend happened near the Kootenay Pass summit on Highway 3. Halskov says it was an unwitnessed collision that was discovered afterward by passing motorists. The cause of that crash is under investigation.

“I know the weather throughout the province most of the weekend was pretty fair, which makes for good driving conditions, and that can often play a role in the number and seriousness of things that occur on our highways,” Halskov says. “Weather was favourable as far as that’s concerned and it’s definitely something as we are nearing the winter months now to remind motorists of the rapidly changing road and weather conditions.”

Halskov adds that all drivers should drive defensively, obey speed limits, wear seat belts, drive sober and drive distraction-free every time you get behind the wheel.