CAROLYN GRANT
Members of both the Cranbrook and Kimberley RCMP detachments answered a combined 100 calls for service over the May long weekend, primarily dealing with campers.
The most serious of the calls was a fatal ATV accident near Suzie Main Forest Service Road in the Koocanusa area.
Kimberley RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel reports that RCMP were notified of the incident by BC Ambulance.
"Upon attendance police found at 39-year-old male from Calgary deceased as a result of an ATV crash," Newel said.
"From the investigation, police determined the subject was travelling along a utility right of way when he lost control. It's believed the rider was ejected from the machine, which then rolled onto him.
Newel said a male from Cranbrook also sustained injuries when his machine rolled and flipped over him when he went to assist.
Newel said a male from Cranbrook also sustained injuries when he went to assist as his machine rolled and flipped over him causing injury. The injuries were non-life threatening and he was able to perform CPR until emergency personnel arrived and took over.
Newel says the operators were not wearing proper safety equipment.
The incident is still under investigation by the RCMP and also the Coroner’s Service. He says toxicology reports, including whether alcohol was involved, would come from the Coroner’s Service.
That wasn’t the only serious incident, Newel reports.
The same night, Friday, May 16, police were called to a firearm related incident near Teepee Creek and Gold Creek Forest Service roads.
Newel says the incident could have been considerably worse than it was.
“A subject discharged a firearm in an unsafe manner that entered into a travel trailer. Fortunately nobody was hurt. That matter is still under investigation and charges could be recommended.”
Roadblocks were conducted in several locations, particularly near the junction of Koocanusa/Baynes Lake Road. In one incident a spike belt had to be deployed, and after three tires were deflated, police were able to stop the vehicle. The driver had attempted to evade the road block and narrowly missed hitting a police officer while doing so.
“She was impaired and received a 90 day driving prohibition and her vehicle was impounded for 30 days,” Newel said. “In addition she received violation tickets for Drive Without Due Care and Attention and Fail to Stop for Police.”
Over the weekend, police apprehended at least four impaired drivers; there were several drug seizures and a number of violation tickets issued. There were a number of party, noise and disturbance complaints in the rural and city areas.
“All this was in addition to a number of routine calls for service which varied from traffic complaints, to thefts, to domestic situations and assaults,” Newel said.