It’s fortunate that no one suffered more than minor injuries in a crash on Hwy 3 that totalled a BMW.
The BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) responded to the incident in Manning Park, just east of Cayuse Flats, around 1:35 pm on Wednesday.
According to police, the crash was caused by a dump truck that jackknifed into its own trailer and collided with a BMW sedan with two Lower Mainland men inside.
Although the injuries were only described as minor, the BMW was totalled in the accident.
“The dump truck was carrying a load of coal that spilled into the Skagit River,” noted a BCHP release. “The BC Ministry of Environment is monitoring the situation and working with the truck company on appropriate cleanup.”
The BCHP says an investigation determined that “speed was a factor” in the collision, and the dump truck driver was charged under the Motor Vehicle Act as a result.
The 39-year-old Chilliwack resident was handed a fine of $368 for driving without due care and attention, which comes with six penalty points against their licence.
“Commercial truck drivers cannot travel safely at the speed of smaller, lighter vehicles. We ask that all commercial drivers exercise more care,” Cpl. Michael McLaughlin explained in a media release.
“The rest of us need to be patient with truck drivers. A slower truck is likely a safer truck.”
Hwy 3 was reduced to a single lane of traffic for several hours following the crash on Wednesday before the incident was fully cleared shortly after 10 pm.
