Alberta mom and dad die in B.C. crash as long-weekend toll mounts

SICAMOUS, B.C. – B.C. roads continued to extract a horrid toll on families traveling for the long weekend with an accident on a bridge on Trans Canada Highway claiming an Alberta mom and dad while their two sons survived the crash.

The crash was reported as police were still picking up pieces of debris from a crash near Golden that killed six members of two families including a mom, dad, and their two children.

A Mazda registered in Alberta with a family of four going east slammed into a B.C.-registered F150 pickup on the Sicamous Narrows Bridge ataround 4:16 p.m., said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

“The collision occurred as the small compact car entered a corner wide and approached the bridge striking the right side bridge abutment and railing guard then into the oncoming lane and path of the pick up truck. The sedan was struck on the passenger side which resulted in the front passenger and rear right side passenger sustaining the full impact of the collision,” he said.

“The occupants were a family of four, with the father seated in the front seat and mother in the back passenger side seat,” he said.

“The vehicle was being driven by their 18-year-old son and the fourth passenger, the younger son 14 years old seated to the rear of the driver,” he added.

“Both the mother and father died as a result of the injuries sustained and were pronounced deceased at the scene,” he added about the tragedy.

The 14-year-old suffered multiple fractures and was flown to hospital in Kamloops.

The young driver was treated for minor injuries. All four were wearing seatbelts which likely did not help because of the side impact suffered by the vehicle.

A couple in the other vehicle suffered relatively minor injuries and both were released after treatment.

The tragedy comes in the wake of a mini van crash near Golden in which a total of six people died. The occupants of the vehicle were from two families. The two families were traveling in two separate vehicles when the mini van slammed into a motorhome and was demolished killing all six.

The mini van, a 1998 Green Dodge Caravan was westbound on the Trans Canada Highway, when the vehicle drifted across the double solid centre line into the oncoming path of an east bound 2003 Monaco Motor home towing a 2005 Ford Focus.

“At this time we can state that the occupants of the 1998 green Dodge Caravan were from the Edmonton Alberta area and were en route to Abbotsford BC, accompanied by a second family also from Edmonton travelling in another vehicle. This second vehicle was not involved in the collision.

“The Dodge mini van contained 4 members of a family of five and had two family members of the second vehicle in the Dodge mini van. The fifth member of the family, a young boy 11 yrs old, was traveling in the second vehicle at the time of the crash.”

Killed was a 47-year-old man, his wife, their two daughters aged 15 and 13 and a 14-year-old and her grandfather who were from the second family.

“Both the driver and front passenger of the mini van were wearing their seatbelts however given the nature of the collision and size of motor home involved, it is clear that they suffered severe trauma from the impact of the collision. All four rear compartment passengers were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision,” said Moskaluk.

“Our analysts have examined the passenger compartment of the vehicle and will use post mortem examination findings to assist in determining the occupant kinetics (occupant movement when not seatbelted at the time of collision) to help determine the cause of death of the rear compartment passengers,” he said.

“We have completed the scene examination and noted that the roadway at the time of the collision was bare and dry on a recently paved road surface. Scene photos of the area indicate the area as a straight segment of highway.

“The full mechanical inspection of the green Dodge mini van will be completed this week, in order to determine if a mechanical failure or the running condition and integrity of the vehicle was a contributing factor. Witness accounts have been compiled and did describe observing the vehicle “drift” into the east bound lane. This along with confirmed information of the groups travel and itinerary, has led our investigators to consider driver fatigue or inattention to be contributing factors.”

“In releasing this information, we are pleading with the public to consider their daily driving habits and practices, along with their preparation for and return travels today and remainder of the summer holiday season,” added Moskaluk

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Posted by News Editor on Aug 3 2010. Filed under Top Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry