The RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol says a strange crash captured on video in Williams Lake over the weekend could have been much worse.
On Sunday, June 20, an officer spotted the driver of a white Ford F-250 and the driver of a grey Toyota Camry allegedly heading down Mackenzie Avenue South without their seatbelts on.
When the officer tried to pull both drivers over, the vehicles collided.
Police have released a video clip of the incident.
Mounties say the 28-year-old driver of the Toyota, who hit the other car from behind, smacked his head on his windshield, requiring stitches.
“The driver blew two ‘fail’ readings on an Approved Screening Device. Those readings were evidence that he was impaired by alcohol,” Cpl. Michael McLaughlin explained.
The other driver, a 19-year-old Big Creek woman, was also ticketed for failing to wear a seatbelt, but police say she suffered only minor injuries because she had it on by the time of the crash.
McLaughlin says the incident shows the importance of seatbelt safety and driving sober.
“The sober and belted driver walked away. The allegedly impaired driver did not see the police lights, did not react to avoid the hugely obvious truck in front of him, and would have died at highway speed.”
The Toyota driver also received a notice of driving prohibition, was fined over $500, and had his vehicle impounded.
