Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

No life-threatening injuries in logging-truck crash that closed highway

Police Briefs: Stolen car, bikes recovered; Lillooet woman missing
n-police-briefs-web-24
The scene of a logging-truck rollover on Highway 99 on Monday, Nov. 6. Photo by Wilson Prewitt

The rollover of a logging truck on Highway 99 on Monday, Nov. 6 fortunately resulted in no major injuries, but it did snarl traffic for a period of time, police said.

The truck lost its load approximately two kilometres north of the Conroy Forest Service Road in Squamish, striking three other vehicles. The drivers of the vehicles involved were transported to hospital with various injuries, none of which were life threatening, police said. Photos from the aftermath of the accident showed at least one vehicle that had been completely totalled in the wreck.

The crash, still under investigation by the RCMP and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement office, closed the highway in both directions on Monday evening as crews worked to clean up the scene. The road was opened to single-lane alternating traffic within two hours, according to DriveBC.

Logging trucks have become something of a divisive issue in the Sea to Sky with a handful of accidents over the past few years. The most notable came in October 2013 when 65-year-old motorcyclist Hugh Craig Roberts was killed after a logging truck lost its load at the intersection of Nordic Way and Highway 99.

Following that accident, Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden met with transportation officials to discuss logging-truck safety.

The BC Coroners Service confirmed this week that the case remains open for investigation. A report into Craig's death is forthcoming, and will include recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

Eyewitness leads police to stolen car

An eyewitness who spotted two suspects stuffing a pair of bikes into the back of their vehicle eventually led police to discover the car was stolen.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, Whistler RCMP received a tip from the witness who recorded the license plate of the suspects’ black BMW.

After running the plates, police determined the vehicle had been stolen from the Lower Mainland.

Officers on patrol eventually found the car parked in Marketplace with the stolen bikes, valued at $10,000 in all, still in the back.

“Police want to remind the public that if they see something suspicious — report it to the police,” read an RCMP release. “The witness in this case was able to foil a significant bike theft and the report led to the recovery of an expensive stolen vehicle.”

Lillooet woman reported missing

Lillooet RCMP is asking for assistance locating a missing woman, police said.

Lacey Tom, 26, was last seen just before midnight Nov. 3 in the Lillooet area. She’s described as First Nation, 5-4 tall, 160 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair down to her waist. She was wearing brown pants, brown Sketchers-brand shoes, a black toque and a black puffy down jacket at the time she was reported missing.

Anyone with information as to Tom’s whereabouts is asked to contact the local police detachment or the Lillooet RCMP at 250-256-4244.

Police searching for three men who reportedly assaulted staff at two village pubs

Whistler RCMP is asking for information on a trio of men who reportedly assaulted staff at two separate village pubs this week.

At around 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, a manager at a local pub called police requesting assistance with three suspects allegedly causing a disturbance in the bar. Before officers arrived, however, one of the males reportedly punched a doorman in the face before leaving the scene.

While police were patrolling the village for the suspects, described as South Asian and in their late 20s to early 30s with dark hair and beards, a staff member at a different bar flagged down an officer to report that three males matching the description were overheard in the pub “bragging about how they punched someone in the face,” police said. The men then allegedly assaulted the bar’s manager and fled on foot before officers could track them down. Subsequent patrols were unable to locate the suspects.

Police are now asking anyone with information on the incidents to contact the detachment at 604-932-3044 or Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Surrey man flees police after fireworks were set off inside his vehicle

A Surrey man and his pals evidently had cause for celebration this week after they were spotted shooting off fireworks inside a vehicle.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, an officer on patrol observed a vehicle on Village Gate Boulevard with the occupants setting off fireworks from inside. Another officer in a police cruiser also saw the vehicle with smoke coming out of it and the passengers continuing to shoot off fireworks. When the officer tried to stop the car by flashing her lights and siren, the 28-year-old driver sped off from the scene.

Police later located the vehicle in an underground parking lot in the village with “fresh damage” to the rear passenger side of the car, according to a release.

The explosive incident remains under investigation, and RCMP is considering charges of failing to stop for police against the vehicle’s owner.