Highway 16 crash highlights dangers of distracted driving

Smithers area RCMP have used a recent highway crash in the Northwest to bring home the message of the dangers of distracted driving, with a Wednesday evening incident which shut down the highway for a few hours directly related to a cellular phone in the vehicle.

In a media release from yesterday, the Mounties outlined the nature of a service call at 8:50 when members of the New Hazelton detachment along with other Emergency Services responded to a serious collision on Highway 16 about 15 kilometres to the east of the Bulkley Valley community.

Upon their arrival responding officers determined that an eastbound pick up truck with a lone female occupant had crossed the centre line and side swiped a west bound transport truck, the incident resulted in serious, but non life threatening injuries to be sustained by the occupant of the pick up truck, the transport truck driver was not injured as a result of the incident.

As part of their investigation, the RCMP have determined that the driver of the pick up truck had been distracted by her cell phone, as a result she was issued a ticket for driving without consideration which carries both a fine of $196 dollars and six points against her driving record.

The highway was closed late Wednesday evening, and then reopened to single lane traffic before midnight, after the investigation had been completed and the roadway made safe by highway crews.

Some additional information on the growing toll of distracted driving and the need for more vigilance while driving can be explored here and here.

For more items of note related to the work of Northwest Emergency responders see our archive page here.