Chilliwack man crashes his car
At 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 police were called to a crash scene near Petrol Road on Highway 5. The driver stated that he must have taken the corner too fast and lost control. He went on to say that after crashing he was so distraught that he downed a couple cans of beer to calm his nerves. The evidence at the scene told a different story. The investigating member took a good look at the crash site and could see where the vehicle had left the road, then traveled through a ditch, eventually striking a group of trees in a nearby forested area. The car was barely visible from the roadway. There was no change in direction of the rolling tire tracks and no sign of the driver trying to hit the brakes or change his direction of travel. The smell of liquor was evident on the driver’s breath, which confirmed his story that he had been drinking.
This is a classic scene that police see regularly. The fact that the rumble strips and the rough ride through the ditch didn’t cause the person to hit the brakes or turn the wheel revealed that the driver was enjoying a nap or passed out behind the wheel when he drove off the road.
The driver was transported by ambulance to the Clearwater hospital to get checked out. He was later served a violation ticket for driving without due care.
Yield sign causes confusion
It appears that some people still don’t quite know what to do when they come to a yield sign. If you sit and watch the intersection where the Old Highway intersects Highway 5 you will undoubtedly agree. It is not uncommon to see people turn off the highway and cruise through the yield sign without as much as a sideways glance to see if it is actually clear to proceed. In many cases, vehicles that do actually have the right of way have to slam on the breaks to avoid a collision. Others come to the yield sign and stop, whether there is another vehicle in sight or not.
Webster sums it up best for those who are unsure of what to do at a yield sign. (No, not to produce or bear fruit) “To give right of way, To give place.”
The next time you approach a yield sign, please remember Webster. If there is another vehicle in the area, give it right of way. If there are no vehicles around, it is your turn. Simple?
