Car-vs-motorcycle/truck fire/two-car MVA, all within 3 1/2 hours Tuesday
By Kyra Hoggan
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a very busy day for first responders on Hwy 3B, with three MVAs within less than three-and-a-half hours.
The first call came in to Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue (KBRFR) at 1:24 p.m, according to Cpt. Glen Gallamore. He said crews (including four firefighters from Trail and four from Warfield) arrived on scene at 1:35 p.m. to find an MVA involving three people, two on a motorcycle and one in a passenger car.
He said the female passenger of the motorcycle was transported to hospital with significant injuries, the male driver of same had minor injuries, and the female driver of the car was sent to hospital for observation.
The highway was closed to westbound traffic for roughly an hour, and the cause of the collision is currently under investigation by the RCMP.
Shortly thereafter, at 3:38 p.m., KBRFR received a call reporting a commercial vehicle fire in the 800 block of Schofield Highway.
Within seven minutes, four Warfield and three Trail firefighters arrived on scene.
“A Chambers chip truck travelling eastbound (toward Trail) had trailer brakes catch fire,” Gallamore said. “He (the driver) was able to stop the vehicle just between the Warfield government offices and the gas station.
“Using the fire extinguisher from his truck, he was able to put the fire out, but it was so hot it reignited,” Gallamore added, saying BC MoT staff just happened to be driving by and helped the driver extinguish the second iteration of the fire.
“Luckily, because of the earlier accident, we already had the highway closed.”
No one was injured in the blaze, and the cause is now under investigation by Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement.
Finally, at 4:46 p.m., KBRFR got a call about an MVA in the 8000 block of Hwy 3B.
Three Trail firefighters arrived on scene at 4:53 p.m. to find the aftermath of a two-vehicle collision.
Trail top cop RCMP Mike Wicentowich said the MVA involved a Dodge Ram 3500 and a small red Hyundai Accent, each with one male occupant: a 67-year-old Fruitvale man and a 62-year-old Trail man, respectively.
“The Accent allegedly pulled onto the highway while unsafe, causing the Dodge to rear-end it,” Wicentowich said. “There was a witness to the entire event.”
He said the Accent was totalled, and the Dodge had to be towed from the scene.
The driver of the Accent was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening, but potentially serious, injuries and issued a violation ticket for driving with undue care and attention.
Just a reminder to motorists, as the season changes and Environment Canada warns of snow as early as this weekend, the risk of poor driving conditions will increase, and caution is advised.
