Property Damage Only as Tractor-Trailer goes off road into Orchard near Oliver, BC.
On May 31st, 2011 at 05:16AM, Oliver/Osoyoos RCMP received a report of a motor vehicle incident on Highway 97 near Road 5, just south of town. Officers attended to find a 1998 Freightliner tractor-trailer had gone off-road and rolled into an orchard, destroying approximately 30 fruit trees on the property. The driver, and sole occupant, a 58 year old Delta resident, reported that he was south bound on Highway 97 when one of the front tires on the vehicle blew out, causing him to lose control, going off-road left into the orchard and rolling both tractor and trailer. The driver escaped with minor injuries and was transported to South Okanagan General Hospital for observation. Both vehicle and trailer are believed to be unsalvageable. A utility pole sheared off during the incident, caused some disruptions to power and phone service. Utility crews were active most of the morning restoring both power and phone service to area residents. No charges have been laid at this time. The matter is still under investigation.