A pair of high speed crashes and another, more idle but equally serious, offence blamed on heavy weekend boozing prompted Mounties to issue a familiar warning.
“We are doing some counterattack projects to get impaired drivers off the road,” said Const. Kris Clark.
“The unfortunate fact is that people are still driving while impaired and chances of being involved in a crash increase (when that’s the case).”
The first drinking related crash happened in Peachland late Saturday, sending three people to hospital and shutting highway traffic down for a significant duration.
Area Mounties attended a multi-vehicle collision in the 6800 block of Highway 97 South just after 11 p.m., where witnesses reportedly saw a Chevy Uplander speeding down the highway and weaving through traffic before smashing into the front of a southbound Toyota Corolla.
“The Chevy struck a telephone pole, dislodging it at the base, and came to rest on the passenger’s side,” said Clark.
“The three occupants of the Toyota were extricated from the vehicle by rescue personnel and had sustained unknown injuries.”
The driver of the Chevy, a 40-year-old West Kelowna woman, was arrested for impaired driving but refused to provide samples.
“She was later taken to hospital with undetermined injuries and released into medical care,” he said.
“She faces a number of possible charges in relation to crash pending further investigation.”
The next afternoon, an unfortunately similar situation came to the attention of West Kelowna cops.
At around 3:20 p.m. Sunday, RCMP received a report of a two-car crash on Boucherie Road near Montigny Road.
“Witnesses reported seeing a grey Acura driving southbound at a high rate of speed before fishtailing and impacting a white Toyota Camry head-on,” said Clark.
“Apparently the driver of the Acura then threw away a box of wine and a cup. Police detained the 39-year-old Kelowna man for further investigation and transported him to the West Kelowna detachment.”
He later provided breath samples three and a half times the legal limit, Clark said.
The four occupants of the Toyota suffered unknown non-life threatening injuries.
The 39-yea-old Kelowna man faces possible charges of Impaired Driving and While Over .08. He was later released on a Promise to Appear for Court on Jan. 30.
Finally, someone who should have been familiar with the police’s policy for imbibing and getting behind the wheel was also picked up this weekend.
Just before 2 pm Saturday, the Kelowna RCMP received a report of a man slumped over the steering wheel of a burgundy Jeep behind the Boston Pizza located at 545 Harvey Avenue.
“Police located the vehicle sitting in the middle of Chapman Place near the intersection with Rosemead Avenue,” said Clark.
“The driver exhibited gross symptoms of impairment and was detained for further investigation. He later provided samples that were nearly four times the legal limit. He was also found to be prohibited and suspended from driving a motor vehicle.”
The 41-year-old Kelowna man faces possible charges of Care or Control of a Motor Vehicle While Impaired, and Care of Control of a Motor Vehicle While Over .08. He was later released on a Promise to Appear for Court on January 13, 2014.
