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Traffic services investigating three accidents

It's been a busy week for RCMP Traffic Services with three separate crashes between Whistler and Pemberton resulting in the use of an air ambulance. The first incident occurred on Aug.

It's been a busy week for RCMP Traffic Services with three separate crashes between Whistler and Pemberton resulting in the use of an air ambulance.

The first incident occurred on Aug. 21 on Suicide Hill, approximately four kilometers south of Pemberton, when a motorcycle ridden by two people from Toronto hit a pickup truck. The 52-year-old male driver of the motorcycle was flown to Vancouver Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. His passenger and the occupants of the pickup were treated for minor injuries.

The highway was closed temporarily to allow the air ambulance to land and clear the site. The accident happened at 11:55 a.m., and the highway was re-opened after 1 p.m.

The second accident occurred the same day at 5:55 p.m., just north of Joffre Lakes. A vehicle lost control, crossed the centre line and struck a southbound camper. The 49-year-old woman driving the vehicle that crossed the road was flown to Vancouver General Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, while the occupants of the camper were treated for minor injuries.

No drugs or alcohol are suspected in either case, although the RCMP are still investigating.

The third accident took place on Sunday, Aug. 23. A southbound vehicle lost control and went off the road, rolling over. A 27-year-old Pemberton resident was flown from the scene with a serious head injury, while the 33-year-old passenger was treated for minor injuries.

RCMP seeking men who followed girl

The Whistler RCMP are looking for more information after they received a report of two men following a 12 year old girl on Sunday, Aug. 23. The girl was walking along the road from Lost Lake in the afternoon when a light brown, older model four-door vehicle with two male occupants slowed down and started to follow her. She ran and the vehicle followed her, all the way back to where she was staying at the Lost Lake Lodge. The driver opened his door at one point.

The men are described as white and in their mid-20s, and both had light brown hair. One was stocky and the other skinny.

If you have any information contact the Whistler RCMP at 604-932-3044.

Dog's name turns up leads in sex assault

The RCMP have identified a suspect in an Aug. 3 sex assault based on the name of the dog that was in the vehicle.

According to the RCMP report a female was on the side of Highway 99 at Creekside at 6:15 a.m. when a man pulled up in a dark blue or dark grey 1990s Toyota pickup truck and offered to give her a ride. The man then made sexual advances towards her and touched her inappropriately.

The RCMP were given a description of the man - six feet, lean build and in his 30s, wearing a tan cap, tan long-sleeve shirt and dark pants - as well as other information. The man told the woman he was a tree faller.

But one of the most important pieces of information was a description of the man's dog, a black Labrador named Cam. People recognized the dog's name and have been in contact with the RCMP, according to Sergeant Steve Wright, which has helped them to identify a suspect. The RCMP are continuing to investigate.

RCMP still getting accidental calls

The Whistler RCMP responded to 250 calls for service last week, including 50 calls that were accidental 911 calls made by cell phones. As a matter of policy the RCMP respond to every call, even if the caller says there is no emergency, which Sergeant Steve Wright says "is incredibly time consuming for our members."

The Whistler RCMP are asking people to remember to lock their phones and to remove 911 as a preset.

Vandalism a growing issue in Whistler, Pemberton

RCMP are responding to a growing number of calls regarding acts of vandalism, especially within Pemberton and the surrounding area where the police have logged 51 calls since January - most recently in connection to an incident of spray painting at the high school.

Within Whistler, vandals have broken into the Medals Plaza several times recently, but on Aug. 14 works crews discovered damage to the boom truck and excavator. Wires were ripped within the compartment of the truck, while someone broke into the excavator and tore apart the seat. In total roughly $4,000 in damages were caused, on top of roughly $3,000 in damages that were reported over the previous few months.

The Whistler RCMP are asking anyone with information to come forward.

In Pemberton, the issue has gotten to the point where Mayor Jordan Sturdy has contacted the RCMP and local community groups about the possibility of setting up a Citizens on Patrol program. They are hoping to have a meeting in the first week of October to determine whether there is enough support and to determine next steps.

"It's an issue that costs this community, individuals and businesses, a tremendous amount of money every year," said Sturdy.

"There's suspicion in a number of different situations but ultimately we don't know who's doing it. Is it kids? Is it 14 year olds or 24 year olds, or even 54 year olds - we don't know, but Citizens on Patrol could try to identify these people and take appropriate action... It just costs the community. For all the thousands spent fixing sprinklers there are way more productive things we could be doing with that money."

Sturdy said they would reach out to community leaders and tribal police at Mt. Currie to see if they could create some kind of COP program there as well, covering the entire area.

"It's an issue everywhere in this corridor, and it's getting out of hand," said Sturdy.