Pre-Christmas crash prompts police to caution against using cruise control on winter roads

By Kyra Hoggan

A single vehicle accident Dec. 23 has police reminding motorists not to use cruise control in current weather conditions.

Deputy fire chief Sam Lattanzio said the call came in at 11:22 a.m. to attend a single-vehicle roll over on Hwy 3A near the airport.

“The ambulance was already on scene – the vehicle had rolled down the bank off the southbound lane, and the occupant was trapped inside,” Lattanzio said. “We determined the level of urgency – the patient appeared to be stable and conscious, with no real life-threatening issues.”

The rescue restricted traffic flow on the highway, but first responders were able to allow a lane in each direction to remain open (tip of the hat to Balfour/Harrop fire chief George Mathieson, who was just passing by, for stopping and pitching in with traffic control).

The victim was extricated using the Jaws of Life, brought up the bank via rope rescue, and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Castlegar RCMP Cpl. Dave Johnson said this crash was an illustration of how dangerous it is to use cruise control in all but the most favourable of road conditions.

“Especially now, and even just in rain, you can hit an icy patch, or hydroplane, which can cause the sensors to malfunction or send you into a slide,” he said. “Cruise control is best for perfect road conditions.”