RCMP say alcohol was a factor in a crash Monday afternoon west of Nelson near Pacific Insight involving three vehicles.
According to West Kootenay Traffic Services Sgt. Derek Donovan, shortly before 5 p.m., a blue Ford SUV eastbound crossed the centre lane on Highway 3A.
The driver of a silver car going west swerved left to avoid the SUV.
“She was able to cross the lane and fortunately not hit another vehicle, coming to rest in the south ditch,” Donovan says. “There may be some damage to the undercarriage of her vehicle, but there were no injuries.”
The small red car directly behind the silver car moved over to the right shoulder to avoid the SUV, but was sideswiped on the front driver’s side.
Both vehicles ended up partly in the westbound lane. Both drivers, who were the sole occupants, were taken to hospital in Nelson with non-life-threatening injuries.
Although Donovan confirmed alcohol was a factor, he couldn’t say exactly what charges are pending against the SUV driver. He didn’t release the man’s age or hometown, but believes everyone involved was from the Nelson area.
“We’re very fortunate. Given the time of day, it could have been a lot worse,” Donovan says.
A mechanical inspection will also be done on the SUV.