By Sgt. Ed deJong

This past week, September 4 to September 11, Columbia Valley RCMP responded to 82 calls for service. The following is a summary of some of the files our officers responded to.

Excessive speeder ends up crashing at Athalmer Road intersection

On September 5, a Columbia Valley RCMP officer observed a vehicle travelling southbound on Highway 93/95 near Dry Gulch at over twice the posted speed limit. The driver failed to stop for police and continued at a high rate of speed southbound where he was again observed traveling at approximately 150 km/h approaching the Athalmer Road intersection.

The driver proceeded through the intersection striking another vehicle, then rolling over multiple times coming to rest in the Black Forest Restaurant parking lot.

Police were on scene almost immediately, but in the ensuing chaos, the driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

Police located the driver approximately one and a half hours later. Thirty seven-year-old Joshua McLelland was arrested and charged with multiple offences; including Dangerous Driving, Fail to Stop for police, Obstruction, Resist Arrest, and Fail to Remain at the scene of a collision, and is currently in custody awaiting his next court appearance.

Harley rider airlifted to Foothills Hospital after crash near Floe Lake

On September 11, Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a collision on Highway 93 at the Floe Lakes Trailhead.  A Harley Davidson motorcycle was driving erratically eastbound on Hwy. 93 and pulled out to pass on a double solid, colliding with a pickup turning left into the trailhead.  The 51-year-old male driver of the motorcycle suffered life altering injuries and was airlifted via STARS air ambulance to Calgary Foothills Hospital.

10% of call volume was false alarms

Eight of the 82 calls for service this past week, or 10%, were false alarms. The use of a home alarm system is an effective way to protect your property when you are away; however, responding to false alarms takes RCMP officers away from other work and ties up resources needlessly. If you have an alarm system and are experiencing issues with false alarms, please contact your alarm company to troubleshoot and correct the cause as soon as possible.  If you accidentally set off your alarm, please contact your alarm company immediately to cancel the alarm.

– Sgt. Ed deJong is Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment commander

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