A fully loaded asphalt truck veered off Shoemaker Hill in Salmon Arm Thursday afternoon on its way down the “no trucks” route and tipped over, its journey down the bank stopped by trees.
Police, firefighters and tow trucks responded to the call about 12:30 p.m. Aug. 16, faced with the difficult task of getting the vehicle upright and back on the road. Shoemaker Hill is located on 10th Avenue SE, just down from the intersection with Fifth Street SE.
Related: 2017 – Road now open at Shoemaker Hill
Ben Honcoop with Ben’s Towing says he estimates the truck weighed about 30,000 pounds.
“It will not be easy. We’ll have to hook onto it with two tow trucks to stand it up,” he said, looking at the overturned vehicle. “It will take some finessing to get it out.”
He said he believes the vehicle, a paving truck out of Vernon, had difficulty with its brakes, leading to the crash.
It’s not known if the driver intended to go down the hill or was just trying to find a place to stop the truck.
No one appeared hurt in the incident and Honcoop said he was expecting the removal procedure to take at least three hours.
Before the tipped truck could be moved, he said, it would have to be inspected by provincial Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement.
Despite the signs warning truckers not to use Shoemaker Hill, it’s not unusual to see large trucks on it.
@SalmonArmmarthawickett@saobserver.netLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
