The Whistler RCMP is waiting for the results of a blood test before filing charges against a 26-year-old taxi driver who hit a southbound school bus on the morning of Wednesday, May 22.
The school bus did not have any children on board when it was struck by the taxi between Nancy Greene Way and Lorimer Road. The taxi, a van, wound up with its tail end hanging off the highway, with extensive damage to the cab. The driver of the taxi, identified as an Australian national, received only minor injuries in the crash, as did the school bus driver.
The highway was closed for more than an hour as a result of the accident.
During its investigation the RCMP detected an odour of liquor and other signs of impairment and arrested the taxi operator for impaired driving. He was taken to the Whistler Health Care Centre where police obtained a blood sample before releasing him on an undertaking. The police are continuing to investigate.
No charges pending after vehicle drove through storefront
Despite driving through the front of a store on Aster Street in Pemberton neither the occupants of the vehicle nor the store workers were injured.
The store and vehicle were both damaged extensively in the 11 a.m. incident. The driver told police that there was a mechanical problem with the vehicle.
The police are not investigating or filing charges, and the case has been turned over to the insurance companies.
Eight bikes stolen, two recovered
The Whistler RCMP answered eight calls regarding the theft of bikes this past week, recovering two bikes that had been reported abandoned on Northlands Boulevard — a Devinci mountain bike that was reported stolen earlier and returned to its owner and a Kona mountain bike.
"It's Bike to Work week, so everyone is reminded to lock up their bikes," said Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair of the Whistler RCMP. "If you're storing bikes in the garage and keep your vehicle in your driveway, then remember to take the (garage door) opener out of the vehicle."
As well, the RCMP is encouraging cyclists to ride safe and obey the rules of the road.
No stills yet from village vandalism
So far none of the security camera footage captured of the suspects in up to 17 vandalism cases reported in the early morning hours of May 18 has turned up usable images, but the RCMP is continuing to go through the video.
The vandals broke windows at hotels, restaurants, retailers and offices in a spree that lasted several hours, and damaged several vehicles as well as smashing windows and jumping on the roof. Witnesses have suggested that the suspects were a group of four or five South Asian males.
If you have any information, please contact the Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
RCMP warn against counterfeit $100
RCMP in B.C. are reporting that counterfeit polymer $100 bills have turned up in B.C., with roughly 60 of the bills found so far across Canada. Police are now going over security footage of a man in New Westminster, who used two fake $100 bills in a transaction, to try and identify a suspect. As well, police in New Westminster interviewed a man who attempted to deposit five fake $100 bills in the bank. They do not believe he knew the bills were counterfeit.
Police say that people are assuming that the new bills can't be counterfeited and as a result they're not checking for the security features the same way they did in the past.
One feature that the counterfeits are missing is a grouping of the number 100 above the hologram of the Peace Tower. As well, the counterfeits don't have the raised text that's present on genuine polymer notes.
