Hail and slush cause logging truck to sideswipe minivan

A logging truck sideswiped a minivan after losing control on the slush that covered Highway 3 around the Mud Lake area – just east of the Paulson Bridge – at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3.

 “That was ugly weather,” said Trail RCMP sergeant Rob Hawthon. “(The bad weather) was not unusual but not to that extent. You’re at a pretty good altitude (around Paulson) and can expect dramatic weather changes.”

The roads were so bad that the RCMP officer who was going to the accident had to slow down to 30 km an hour, said Hawthon.

Christina Lake Fire Rescue was the first responder. The hail was two to three inches deep said Christina Lake fire chief Ken Gresley-Jones.

According to Hawthon, the logging truck hit some slush, crossed the centre line and side swiped the minivan in the opposite lane. The family was from Alberta and were traveling home at the time.

Hawthon did not know how many passengers were in the vehicle at the time. Two of the passengers were girls who were transported to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, said Gresley-Jones.

The most serious injury in the incident was a broken rib, said Hawthon.