The Port Alberni RCMP is investigating two serious motor vehicle crashes that occurred over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon (Aug. 9, 2014) police received a report of an injury collision on River Road involving several vehicles. Officers arrived in the vicinity of Clutesi Haven Marina and found a vehicle on its roof that had landed there after it struck several unoccupied vehicles that were parked along the road.
The driver of the offending vehicle which was traveling southbound, fell asleep, causing his vehicle to veer to the right shoulder where it side swiped a small pickup truck, before driving forward into the rear of a boat trailer that was attached to another pickup truck.
The 18-year-old driver from Port Alberni was taken to West Coast General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. Two of the three vehicles involved in this incident required tow services due to the extent of the damage.
In another motor vehicle incident which occurred on Sunday morning at 3:30 a.m. on the Pacific Rim Highway near Port Alberni, a vehicle was travelling westbound when the driver lost control in a curve, crossed into the opposing lane and off the highway where it struck a tree.
The driver was ejected on impact and was found sitting on the westbound shoulder of the highway when the officer arrived on scene. He was conscious but was suffering from a number of injuries. The driver was transported to West Coast General Hospital and later flown to Victoria for further treatment.
The responding RCMP officer determined from evidence at the scene of the crash that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs while he was operating the vehicle, and the 20-year-old driver from Nanaimo became the subject of an impaired driving investigation.
It is fortunate that this was a single vehicle crash and that no innocent parties were injured, however it is frustrating that we continue to see incidents of impaired driving despite the fact that there is so much anti-drinking and driving messaging and public pressure in our communities,
said Port Alberni RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Paddock.
— Submitted
