A Calgary man is dead and a Salmon Arm resident is in hospital with serious injuries following a motor-vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway Saturday morning.
The incident occurred about 7:45 a.m. on March 5 at the Salmon River Bridge. Police report a westbound Chevy Impala driven by a 24-year-old Calgary man encroached on the eastbound lane and collided head-on with a Dodge pickup truck driven by a 51-year-old Salmon Arm man.
The Calgary man was pronounced dead at the scene while the Salmon Arm driver was airlifted to Kamloops hospital with serious injuries.
The highway was closed for approximately four hours before it was eventually re-opened to single-lane alternating traffic.
Salmon Arm Mayor Nancy Cooper said her heart goes out to the family of the deceased. She says the incident highlights the pressing need for the province to proceed with the proposed upgrades that would provide a safer alternative to the Salmon River Bridge.
“This is our nightmare,” said Cooper of the incident. “We’ve been very worried about this and we’ve been talking to both levels of government, wanting to move this forward. You know they have some plans, I just hope they get moving on it.”
Cooper is hoping the federal government will show a financial commitment to the project when the budget is released on March 22.
“We really need the commitment from the federal government as well,” said Cooper.
North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold says he has been working with municipalities and the province to identify necessary highway improvements, and will “continue to fight for the funding to make our highways and bridges safer on behalf of all constituents and visitors of the region.”
Meanwhile, residents of the North Okanagan-Shuswap are mourning the loss of Carlee Nora De Boer, 20, of Grindrod, and Paige Alexandra Whitelaw, 20, of Ladysmith, who died Sunday when the vehicle they were in left Highway 6 in Vernon.
Police say the vehicle hit the shoulder and rolled several times.
The driver, a 21-year-old Armstrong man, is under investigation, and police say there are indications that alcohol and speed may have been contributing factors.
