The long weekend was a busy one for police and other emergency responders in the Fraser Valley.
Tragically, it was a fatal one for a 60-year-old Washington State man who was killed after he was hit by a vehicle on Chilliwack Lake Road late Sunday.
The victim was airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital with critical injuries after he was hit by the westbound vehicle at about 10:30 p.m. just east of Auchenway Road.
Police are not releasing more information until next of kin are notified.
An investigation by the Chilliwack RCMP traffic section continues.
The long weekend also saw a number of ATV accidents in the Fraser Valley.
A 42-year-old Calgary woman was airlifted to Vancouver General with serious injuries after an ATV accident on Saturday near Portia Road north of Hope.
Police said it appears inexperience in operating an ATV could have played a role in the accident.
A second ATV accident was reported Monday just after 4 p.m. on the west side of Harrison Lake on the Chehalis Forest Service road.
Police said a 19-year-old male driver from New Westminster failed to negotiate a turn in the road, and he and a 21-year-old female passenger from Mission were thrown from the ATV.
The passenger was airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital, while the driver was treated on the scene for minor cuts and scrapes.
Police said while alcohol did not appear to be involved, excessive speed for the terrain could have been a contributing factor.
Meanwhile, Hope RCMP members responded to a report of a stabbing near Yale early Saturday morning.
A fight between two males resulted in one man stabbed in the arm.
The 41-year-old victim managed to make his way to the Fraser Canyon Hospital where he was transferred to the Abbotsford Regional Hospital for treatment. He was released later that day.
A 43-year-old Agassiz resident, Cyril Dean Prescott, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily arm.
He was scheduled to appear in provincial court Tuesday.
An investigation by Hope RCMP continues.
Police said three canoeists from Burnaby were lucky a jet boat operator from Surrey was nearby when their canoe capsized near Harrison Mills on Monday.
Kent Search and Rescue, RCMP, and Emergency Services Personnel were en route when the jet boat operator plucked all three Burnaby men from the water, and retrieved their canoe as well.
“It needs to be recognized that the young men from Burnaby were all wearing life-jackets,” RCMP Cpl. Barbara Vincent said.
The Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment Seasonal Policing Unit also reported a busy weekend enforcing the Liquor Control Act and safe operation of ATV’s.
Multiple ATV patrols were conducted and boat patrols were made on Harrison and Cultus Lakes, along with numerous road blocks.
Patrols were conducted in the Silver Skagit, Sunshine Valley and Jones Lake area near Hope, as well as the Chilliwack and Cultus Lake areas, and both east and west sides of Harrison Lake.
Vincent said a new mobile policing unit was created which allowed for 24-hour coverage on the west side of Harrison Lake, and that same unit will be out for the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
She said the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment is reminding the public that safe and responsible operation of ATV’s, motorbikes and boats must be adhered to.
“That includes having a sober driver on any machine and wearing appropriate safety clothing, including helmets while driving ATV’s and motorbikes,” she said.
“And everyone should not just have a life jacket available, but actually wear the life
jacket while in or operating any water-craft,” she said.
Finally, the Chilliwack RCMP detachment reported 22 motor vehicle accidents over the long weekend.
Two impaired drivers were apprehended, eleven immediate roadside prohibition’s for alcohol were issued and two 24-hour suspensions issued for drivers impaired by drugs.
Three prohibited drivers were apprehended and four violation tickets issued for excessive speed.
rfreeman@theprogress.com