Bear Lake Man Killed in Highway 97 Collision
Saturday, September 1, 2012 @ 8:07 AM
Prince George, B.C. – A traffic fatality has been recorded this Labour Day weekend following a two-vehicle collision north of Prince George.
Staff Sergeant Pat McTiernan with Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic Services says the collision occurred at 4:26 this morning, one kilometre north of the Salmon Valley bridge, which is 32 kilometres north of Prince George.
A southbound car had just left Bear Lake heading toward the city. Police say the vehicle was being driven erratically when it clipped a northbound pick-up truck. The car went out of control, flipping end over end and tumbled off the highway. The driver was ejected from the older model Chrysler and landed on the paved shoulder of the road.
The driver of the pick-up is a paramedic from Prince George who was on his way to work in Bear Lake at the time of the accident. He was not injured and immediately attended to the driver of the car, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Staff Sergeant McTiernan says investigating officers are checking to see whether speed, alcohol or the lack of restraint usage may have been involved in the accident. As well he says a big weather system that moved through the area and resulted in a major downpour earlier this morning might have been a factor. He says the paramedic was sent to University Hospital in Prince George for a routine check. He will be questioned about weather conditions at the time.
Highway 97 was closed to all traffic for almost 9 hours while RCMP traffic analysts conducted their investigation of the scene. The highway has now been opened to traffic in both directions.
Staff Sgt McTiernan says the man killed lived alone in Bear Lake. Police are still trying to contact next-of-kin, who may be either in Quesnel or Ontario at this time.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or who may have seen either of the vehicles prior to the collision, to contact the Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic Services Unit at (250) 649-4004.
Comments
well at least he wasn’t texting!
Taxinapothole glad to see you have sensitivity training
Of all the places on that highway this is one where I would expect that sort of thing to happen. Crossing the CN over pass one normally has good momentum and then the wide s turn can be deceiving in the way it set the vehicle and on the far end of it I swear the curve angle changes mid corner. Probably just a tired guy not able to react in time.
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