Columbia Valley RCMP Report

By St. Sgt. Marko Shehovac

At 11:42 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment officers attended a single vehicle accident on Highway 93/95 near Radium Hot Springs. A 2006 Subaru, driven by a 27-year-old female from Calgary, went off the road and down an embankment landing on the driver’s side. The driver was not injured.

Brisco crash

At noon on Nov. 21, police attended a single vehicle rollover on Hwy. 95 near Brisco. A Ford Expedition, driven by a 24-year-old female from Golden, started to fishtail on a corner near Spur Valley. The vehicle ended up in the ditch. The driver and passenger received minor injuries from broken glass and were taken to the Invermere and District Hospital to be checked out.

Theft of a tire

At 1:30 p.m. Nov. 21, Columbia Valley Detachment received a complaint of theft of a tractor tire from the Dominion Creek Gold compound.

Extensive damage

At 4:52 p.m. on Nov. 21, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to an accident involving a Lexus driven by a 62-year-old female from Canmore, Alta. on Hwy 93/95, at the south entrance of Columbia Lake Road. The Lexus collided with a deer when it ran out onto the highway. No injuries to the driver. The vehicle sustained extensive damage.

Two cars crash north of Canal Flats

At 9:57 p.m. on Nov. 21, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to a single vehicle accident on Hwy 93/95, two kilometres north of Canal Flats. A 2007 Toyota Camry driven by a 34-year-old female from Canal Flats lost control on an icy hill and ended up in the ditch. A second vehicle, a ‘97 GMC Sierra driven by a 50-year-old male from Calgary, also came along and slid down the hill striking the Camry causing extensive damage to it. The driver of the Sierra was injured and taken to Invermere and District Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Westside Road crash

At 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 22, Columbia Valley Detachment attended to a single vehicle accident on Westside Road at Fairmont Hot Springs. A ‘97 Mazda pickup driven, by a 35-year-old male from Radium Hot Springs, lost control on a curve and ended up in the ditch. No injuries to the driver. Vehicle suffered frontend damage.

Off-road up Findlay Creek

At 1:43 p.m. on Nov. 22, Columbia Valley Detachment attended to a single vehicle accident on Findlay Creek Road in Canal Flats. A 2007 GMC pickup and trailer driven by a 62-year-old male from Fairmont was travelling up Findlay Creek Road when he came upon icy road conditions and started to slide backwards. Attempts to control the vehicle resulted in the trailer going off the road. Trees prevented the vehicle and trailer from going further down the embankment. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and make it to the road uninjured.

First Responder/Cram the Cruiser event

Our thanks to all who contributed food, and cash for the Food Bank at the Rockies hockey game on Friday and during the Light up the Night parade. Kid who threw in the bag in the police vehicle that almost struck me; good arm!

Keeping up with the youngsters

When I joined the RCMP in 1975 I mastered the typewriter keyboard. Going to mess with these young officers and bring a typewriter to work one day and type away.

In my younger days we were able to communicate and pass on information with other police officers through memos and letters. Technology has changed how we do our day-to-day work.

One day I discovered that the young generation of officers couldn’t figure out how to change a roll of film on the older cameras we used. I remember my response, “Are you kidding me?”

I pride myself in attempts at mastering the computer programs we deal with, then they messed me up and put computers in the police cars. I struggle with that one. Every now and then Grant gives me a repeat crash course.

With computers in the cars the young generation of officers can communicate via “V” mail with each other rather than use the radio. When I first arrived here the officers would send me “V” mails. I would pull over and answer. Within seconds they would respond back and I would once again pull over and spend time replying back. Given the amount of time I had to pull over to respond, I sent out a directive, no more V mails to me.

I find the young officers today with all the technology at their fingertips are able to multitask. They remind me of bingo players. Coffee, cigarette, ink blotters with 12 cards in front of them they don’t miss a beat.

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