The driver of a commercial vehicle was charged under the Motor Vehicle Act after an accident in Sechelt last Saturday.
Around 1:15 p.m. on March 4, Sunshine Coast RCMP and Sunshine Coast Traffic Services responded to the single-vehicle commercial vehicle collision on Sechelt Inlet Road, just north of the Porpoise Bay provincial campground.
"A dump truck pulling a tandem trailer loaded with paving equipment was travelling south along Sechelt Inlet Road when it rounded a right corner," said Const. Kurt Rosenberg.
"The trailer flipped over, spilling its load across the highway and making it impassible. The dump truck ended up high-centred over the west embankment. The driver was not injured."
Rosenberg said Sechelt Inlet Road was closed for over three hours while police investigated. K&A Towing out of Gibsons arrived and helped clear the scene. The trailer was carrying a Bobcat and several rollers used for paving projects.Police charged the driver of the vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Act for having an insecure load and for failing to keep right.
"Our best assumption is that the load shifted," said Rosenberg. "Speed is such a relative term. There were no skid marks so it's difficult to say if speed was a factor. We do know the load wasn't secured properly and when the trailer rolled, he lost control.
"We're thankful no other vehicles were involved. It could have been fatal.
"Police remind commercial vehicle drivers to follow load securement standards and urge them not to take shortcuts."The commercial vehicle worked for Power Paving based in the Lower Mainland. Coast Reporter called Power Paving asking to speak to the owner. Another employee who answered the phone said the owner was in Nelson and not available for comment. He also declined to comment on the matter when asked.
Pedestrian injuredOn March 8 at 1:30 p.m., police responded to a pedestrian collision in the 5500 block of Hwy. 101.
"According to witnesses, a pedestrian was standing in the turning lane trying to cross the highway when a vehicle in the fast lane stopped," said Rosenberg. "The pedestrian started to cross and was struck by a vehicle in the slow lane."
Rosenberg said the pedestrian was taken to St. Mary's Hospital with undetermined injuries.
"Just north of the collision scene was a pedestrian controlled crosswalk that was not used," he added. "Police urge pedestrians to cross the highway using designated crosswalks where available. Where no crosswalk exists, use your road sense before crossing."
