On November 18, 2015 at 9:40PM, Oliver RCMP were dispatched to a single vehicle Motor Vehicle Incident on Highway 97 at Gallagher Lake Rd., north of Oliver, BC.

Officers attended and located a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier flipped upside down in the northbound lane of Highway 97. Three males were located roadside and an eighteen year old Castlegar resident was identified as the driver.

According to the driver and his two passengers, they were travelling southbound on Highway 97 when the driver looked away from the roadway in an attempt to change the music on his cell phone. The brief distraction led to the vehicle drifting to the right, colliding with the bridge, and ultimately flipping over. Only minor injuries were reported and all three males were cleared by EHS at the scene.

There was significant damage to the vehicle which will most likely be a total loss. Alcohol was not determined to be a factor. And, it could not be determined whether speed played a role. Traffic was stopped until the vehicle and debris could be cleaned up. Ministry of Transportation contractors were contacted to examine the bridge and arrived shortly thereafter to erect hazard signage until repairs could be affected. The driver was issued a Violation Ticket for ‘Use an Electronic Device while Driving’ under Section 214.2(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act.