A three-car collision stopped two-way traffic on Columbia Avenue Friday just before noon.
One of the drivers involved in the incident said he had stopped to wait for the vehicle ahead of him to turn left when the accident occurred.
“The vehicle behind us stopped and I guess the vehicle behind them didn’t notice that everybody stopped, hit the vehicle behind [us], they pushed into us — very minorly,” said Tim Swanson, who, along with his passenger, was not injured.
Const. Ron George from the Castlegar RCMP confirmed Swanson’s report.
The people in both of the other vehicles had minor injuries and were transported to Castlegar and Trail hospitals.
“They went to the hospital for assessment, but at this time all of them have been released from hospital,” said George. “So it doesn’t appear to be anything major or serious. … They’re going to bruised and sore for a bit.”
The incident took place on Columbia Avenue near 27th Street.
The RCMP, the Castlegar Fire Department and two BC Ambulances with paramedics were on the scene shortly after the call came in at 11:44 a.m., with a third ambulance arriving not long after.
Officials set up traffic control and kept single-lane traffic moving on Columbia Avenue.
Radiator coolant was also leaking from one of the vehicles and was cleaned up by the Castlegar Fire Department.
“Absorbent was put down and it was cleaned up by the fire department,” said George.
The constable warns people to pay attention on the road.
“It think it’s just a reminder that we need to pay a attention to the traffic around us and keep off the auto pilot. We can tend to zone out while driving, especially when we’re familiar with roads,” says George. “So just make sure we’re paying attention while we’re driving a vehicle.”
