Impaired Collision – Vehicle vs Utility Pole
On February 14, 2018 at 5:10pm the Osoyoos RCMP responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 97 just north of 62nd Street. A witness on scene reported seeing the vehicle, a 2007 Chevrolet LS, travelling south bound at a high rate of speed, lose control and go off road into a utility pole. The utility pole was severed at its base and leaned over the vehicle yet remained suspended above only being held by the utility lines. Due to the danger the damage pole caused not only to emergencies services personnel at the scene but also the passing public, Highway 97 was closed to traffic in both directions. It was reopened at approximately 8:00pm after the pole was secured. Despite the vehicle being equipped with an impaired driving interlock device, the driver and sole occupant, a 47 year old resident of Osoyoos displayed significant impaired symptoms and was taken to hospital for assessment before being released to the RCMP. He later provided breath samples showing a blood alcohol concentration 2 ½ times over the legal limit. This is not his first impaired driving incident and he now faces another criminal code impaired driving charge.