A recent crash in Williams Lake shows why wearing seatbelts and driving sober can save lives. The incident involved a rear-end collision that could have been fatal at highway speed.
On Sunday, July 20, a BC Highway Patrol officer noticed two vehicles on Mackenzie Avenue South whose drivers were not wearing seatbelts. As the officer moved to pull them over, a Toyota Camry slammed into the back of a Ford F250.
Corporal Michael McLaughlin of the BC Highway Patrol explained that the Camry driver did not see the police lights and failed to react to the truck in front. “At highway speed, he would have died,” McLaughlin said.
Police checked the Camry driver first. He suffered significant head injuries after hitting his windshield. Testing with an Approved Screening Device showed two fail readings, indicating alcohol impairment.
The 28-year-old Williams Lake man behind the wheel of the Camry received several penalties. He was issued a Notice of Driving Prohibition, had his vehicle impounded, received a $167 ticket for failing to wear a seatbelt under section 220(4) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act, and a $368 ticket for driving without due care under section 144(1)(b) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act.
The Ford F250 driver, a 19-year-old woman from Big Creek, was wearing her seatbelt and suffered minor or no injuries. She received a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt before the crash.
“This low-speed crash, captured on police video, highlights the life-saving importance of seatbelts and sober driving,” said McLaughlin. “The sober and belted driver walked away.”
Seatbelts became mandatory in 1977. According to ICBC, a crash at just 55 km/h without a seatbelt is like falling from a three-storey building. Backseat passengers are equally at risk if they do not buckle up.
Police urge all drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts, stay alert, and never drive under the influence. This incident serves as a reminder that simple precautions can prevent serious injuries or death.
