Dawson Creek RCMP say a fatal head-on collision happened Sunday morning on Highway 97 near Groundbirch, 49 kilometers west of Dawson Creek, near the Alberta border. One of the drivers died on the spot, while the other was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The highway was closed for nearly seven hours afterward. The Mounties also confirmed two separate fatal crashes on Monday: one on Highway 39 near Mackenzie, 278 kilometers west of Dawson Creek, and another on Highway 97. BC RCMP spokesman Cpl. Madonna Saunderson says Mackenzie RCMP responded to the Highway 39 incident around 6:17 a.m. where the driver of a pickup truck died after colliding with a semi truck. “The driver of the semi was reported to be uninjured,” Sanderson said. It also says local RCMP responded to the crash on Highway 97 near Chetwynd on Monday afternoon around 3:29 p.m., where a truck and a car collided, killing the car’s two occupants, both women. The truck driver appeared to be uninjured. Weather data from Environment and Climate Change Canada shows temperatures in northeastern B.C. they reached -18 degrees Celsius on Sunday and Monday. Saunderson says while she’s not sure if road conditions were a factor in the crash near Mackenzie, the roads were slippery at the time of the crash near Chetwynd. “[I] I want to remind everyone that it’s winter — weather and road conditions can change drastically in a hurry, and [drivers] we should be prepared and slow down on the northern roads,” he said.
Accident victim ‘devoted and loving’ father, husband
Prince George, a resident of B.C. Valerie Lucas confirmed that her nephew, Kyle Duchesne, was the victim of the crash on Highway 97 near Groundbirch on Sunday. She says she received a call from her father that day, informing her that Duchesne had been killed while driving to a construction site that morning. Lucas says Duchesne and his wife had recently moved to Camrose, Alta. to be closer to her relatives, but that she was still traveling between Dawson Creek and other parts of northern BC, where she worked as a contractor. An online fundraiser set up for Duchesne’s family describes his “ingenuity as a roofer” and “his leadership and example as a superintendent.” Kyle Duchesne, 35, was killed in a car accident Sunday morning on Highway 97 near Groundbirch, BC (Burgar Funeral Home) “Kyle was such a hard worker — very dedicated and loving,” Lucas said in an interview. “He had two young children. He was very supportive and wanted the best for his family.”
Crews working ‘double shifts’ to keep roads clear: MLA
River South Peace MLA Mike Bernier says his heart goes out to the families affected by the recent deaths. “We had this first period of winter, really bad weather,” he said in an interview. “We fell to about -25 [Tuesday] and it snowed over the weekend.” Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier says maintenance crews are doing their best to keep up with work on northeast B.C. roads, but it’s impossible. (Kyle Bakx/CBC News) Bernier says maintenance crews do their best to keep up, but they can’t be everywhere at once. He says he met with the road maintenance contractor in his area who told him they are weak. “They told me they were doing double shifts, working overtime and even subcontracting people with equipment to try and help them,” he said. “They also have job adverts but that doesn’t let them get away with it – they know that. They have a contract to fulfill as well.” Bernier says it’s important to remember that weather conditions can change instantly in the mountains. “Every year when we have the first two snowfalls and solid snow … we have fatalities or serious traffic accidents,” he said. “It’s just something that’s heartbreaking, but we have to remember that we live in this climate up here.” Subscribe to Daybreak North on CBC Listen or your favorite podcast app and connect with CBC Northern British Columbia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
