Penticton motorists urged to slow down and pay attention after rash of collisions

PENTICTON – Penticton RCMP are asking motorists to be aware, and take care, after a number of collisions in the city, including one which killed a dog that was crossing the street with its owner.

A single vehicle collision in the 1500-block of Fairview Road on April 15 resulted in extensive property damage when a van smashed into a fence and dropped four feet into a neighbouring yard, smashing into a concrete flower box, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says.

Several thousand dollars in damage was reported to the fence and yard. The driver of the vehicle had fallen asleep and was issued a ticket for driving without due care.

A collision yesterday, April 18, involving a silver pickup truck and a cyclist had police issue an appeal to the public for help in locating the vehicle.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Duncan Avenue and Fairview Road around 4 p.m., Cpl. Ted Manchulenko says. The cyclist, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries as a result of the collision. Manchulenko says the driver stopped, identified himself, then left, but police do not believe he gave correct information regarding his identification.

Police are looking for a silver pickup towing a flat deck trailer with a male driver. They are asking for any witnesses who may have seen the incident to call the Penticton RCMP detachment at 250-492-4300.

“It was a busy time of day down there, somebody had to see something — or if the person involved would like to come forward and give us further information, that would be good, too,” he says.

A collision at the corner of Industrial Avenue and Government Street yesterday resulted in the death of a dog. An elderly man was crossing the road at that intersection on a mobility scooter with his dog on a leash when a pickup truck, turning the corner, struck the dog. The animal was immediately delivered to a veterinary clinic adjacent the intersection, but the dog could not be saved.

A collision between a truck carrying wine and a Honda sedan sent at least one person to hospital around 9 a.m. today, April 19. The crash took place at the intersection of Penticton Avenue and Government Street, resulting in the truck flipping on its side across Government Street. Traffic was disrupted for two hours as emergency crews cleaned up.

“We’re just getting more and more of this type of incident, since the spring weather has hit, and people just have to start paying attention a little more. Everyone seems to be in a rush because it’s 30 degrees outside,” Manchulenko says.

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