Two Williams Lake Drivers “Lucky Their Accident Wasn’t Fatal” Says BC Highway Patrol

Two drivers in Williams Lake are “lucky to be walking away” with only seatbelt tickets, a driving prohibition, and a bleeding scalp as results of a crash on July 20, says BC Highway Patrol.

Corporal Michael McLaughlin says a BC Highway Patrol officer noticed two drivers caught on police video, one in a white Ford pickup, and another in a grey Toyota Camry, travelling on Mackenzie Avenue South, driving without seatbelts. When the officer turned around to pull them over, the driver of the Camry “rear-ended” the Ford.

McLaughlin adds that the driver of the Camry, a 28-year-old male, was “bleeding liberally” when the officer checked on them. The officer reported that the male’s head had smashed into his vehicle’s windshield.

The officer administered an Approved Screening Device on the male driver and blew two fails.

“This illustrates a problem that we [BC Highway Patrol] see often in the Cariboo. This is people not wearing their seatbealts and driving impaired,” says McLaughlin.

“It is a really dangerous thing to do and often ends in tragedy. Fortunately, here, the biggest penalties were injury and financial penalties, but it could have been much worse. The drivers are lucky their accident wasn’t fatal.”

McLaughlin says the driver of the white Ford pickup, a 19-year-old female from Big Creek, had managed to put on her seatbelt “moments before” the collision, and was able to walk away with no injuries.

“We have a lot more issues with speeding, impaired driving, and particularly seatbelt use in the Cariboo than we do in other jurisdictions,” says McLaughlin. “It really needs to change. A seatbelt won’t slow you down, and it will literally save your life, as well as save you from getting tickets.”

The male driving the Toyota Camry was issued:

• A Notice of Driving Prohibition;
• A vehicle impound;
• A ticket for fail to wear a seatbelt, section 220(4) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act (MVA), for a fine of $167;
• A ticket for drive without due care and attention, section 144(1)(b) of the BC MVA ($368)

The woman who was driving the Ford pickup received:

• A ticket for fail to wear a seatbelt;
• Minor or no injuries because her seatbelt was back on for the collision.

The accident was reported to be at speeds below 50 kilometres, which McLaughlin says is another lucky factor for the drivers.

“This collision is a perfect example of no seatbelt versus wearing a seatbelt. If you get into this type of collision and you’re not wearing a seatbelt at highway speeds, chances are you’re going to die… We at BC Highway Patrol would much rather not to give you tickets and we don’t want to have to pull you over, or much worse. Please, just slow down, wear a seatbelt, and enjoy your drive.”