Woman dies in traffic accident near Hope, B.C.

"Road and weather conditions were contributing factors in the accident, police said"

I saw that little white Toyota rolled over on it's side just below the shed in the ditch to the right.

I am guessing some super-B was running down the hill, loaded, at about 130 km hr or more, and ran the lady off the road.

The truck drivers on that hill drive extreamly wreckless running downhill. Loaded with 80,000 lbs taking some of those corners below the shed, with g-forces pulling you into the other lane.

I know, I drive that run daily.

I think they should set up radar below the shed and start issuing tickets to these idiot truck drivers.


shed.png

Why does this accident make the news? How many Canadians die in traffic accidents each day, what's special about this one?

I was just wondering exactly the same thing.

There were more BC accidents that made the news yesterday, just not CKA-news. The reason this made CKA news, is because Trit saw it.

Thank you Brenda.

andyt, poquas seem to be more worried about the article making the news, vs the probable cause. Which is the reason I think there are so many dam accidents on the roads... attitude of the other driver.

Your statement andyt sorta reminds me of murders in the USA. It's just a daily occurance, hardly makes the news.

Thank you Brenda.

andyt, poquas seem to be more worried about the article making the news, vs the probable cause. Which is the reason I think there are so many dam accidents on the roads... attitude of the other driver.

Your statement andyt sorta reminds me of murders in the USA. It's just a daily occurance, hardly makes the news.

In 2006 there were 2604 fatal accidents in Canada, so about 7 a day. So it is a daily occurrence, and we're willing to tolerate them to quite a degree. Vs say a plane crash. We have become inured to it, so my question was what was special about this one that it made the news, vs the other 6 that likely happened that day?

Maybe you're right about the cause, but it could as easily be impairment, falling asleep or just driver error. If she was heading south, that means she was going downhill - maybe she just allowed herself to get going too fast, or her brakes failed, or who knows.

Hmmm that's a VERY interesting statistic. Can't wait to use it in one of the gun threads

andyt, how often do you drive the Cochahalla highway?

I do it 6 days a week, to Kamloops or Kelowna. I see first hand how the drivers are and plenty of accidents.

As a matter of fact, I will be picking up a 56,000 lbs load in a little over an hour for Kamloops today.

I see the other truckers with full loads running down that hill (the smasher) at 120 to 130 hm per/hr loaded. The drivers are out of control, and with that weight it's almost impossible to remain in your lane while taking corners.

They are asking for witnesses to the accident because of this fact.

Rumor has it a super-B load with 80,000 lbs of lumber, running to fast downhill, pushed her off the road to her death.

Very well known. Traffic deaths are declining as cars get safer, but at one time the US was killing 50,000 people a year in traffic, as much as in all of Vietnam (Americans that is). At least that's what the media was reporting at the time - in light of the Canadian statistic, if a 10:1 ratio holds true, that would mean US traffic fatalities have declined by half.

But yes, because most accidents only kill one or two people, we all drive and we drive so much, we've just turned off our concern about traffic fatalities that we would never sit still for in any other situation. And as Tritium points out, we drive like we're invincible. I certainly did when I was young, and almost joined those statistics a number of times, but have always walked away.

I don't drive it nearly as often as you. but I'm familiar with that steep long grade. I'm not saying you're wrong, and if you're hearing rumor about the situation, then you at least have something to go on. But people do drive off that road, and all roads, all by themselves too.

I'm glad you're a responsible truck driver - as you say, so many aren't. They're pushing so hard to make a buck, they're risking mostly other people's lives. Competition in trucking is just too fierce, and enforcement not stiff enough. That's what happens with laissez faire right wing govts. We had the same problem in Vancouver with runaway trucks with poorly maintained brakes. Mostly Punjabi drivers and owners bringing the Indian standards of safety here. Haven't heard as much about it lately, I guess enforcement was finally increased. I'm familiar with crazy truck drivers in the logging industry. I didn't drive truck myself, but when you're driving the work truck or walking a cat down the mainline, it can get pretty hairy. At least we had radios to deal with it.

Well I tell you what andyt, it's not just the driver... it's the company they work for.

Sure I have a clean license, and get the best discount one could get with ICBC.

But the company I work for is also very responsible and requires that of it's drivers.

Here is a pic of my rig.

My_Truck.jpg

Kind of odd, transferred from Alberta to BC with this company, run my web hosting company http://www.VancouverWebHosting.com and opening a restaurant http://www.rallys.ca soon in Langley.

Kind of hard nailing down what I do for a living when asked.

May even be considering Owner/Operator running to California if the contract offered is good.

The news article says nothing about anyone else involved nor does it begin to imply a cause. It's a "slow news day" story. Tragic, but nothing special at the moment.

...get your reading glasses out.

"Road and weather conditions were contributing factors in the accident, police said"

...and they are looking for witnesses. Duh.

Just fyi, Poquas, it WAS on Global News last night.