UPDATED: BC Coroners Service releases name of victim in fatal Warfield accident
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a male who died after a motor vehicle incident near Trail on May 3.
He was Frederick Wilkinson, aged 52, of Cornwall, Ont. Wilkinson was the driver and sole occupant of a commercial semi- trailer unit which lost its brakes, went out of control and rolled while descending a steep hill near the intersection of Highway 3B and Tennyson Avenue shortly after noon on May 3.
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.
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On the May 3 at roughly 12:38 p.m., the Trail RCMP and West Kootenay Traffic Services attended a motor vehicle crash on Highway 3B, Warfield Hill, Warfield.
Investigation has revealed that a Commercial B Train traveling down Highway 3B loaded with cement blocks lost control at the intersection of Tennyson Avenue and went off road left into an empty field.
A 50-year-old Ontario driver of the semi trailer was deceased at the scene. A Warfield City employee working in the area was struck with debris and was transported to the Trail Hospital and is in stable condition.
The name of the deceased is being withheld until next of kin is notified.
All questions concerning the deceased should be directed to Barbara McLintock, Provincial Coroner Media 250-213-2050
At this time the West kootenay Traffic Services and the Provincial Coroner Services are investigating this crash. Possible causes are mechanical failure or driver error.
If more information is required, please contact Cpl. John Ferguson of
West Kootenay Traffic Services.
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Regional deputy fire chief Dan Derby was unable to provide much more information, as the RCMP are currently investigating, but he was able to say the other vehicle involved was a parked pick-up truck. Only two people were involved, the rig driver and a Warfield pedestrian.
The scene is now cleared, but traffic restrictions will still be in effect until the police investigation is complete.
He also reitereated the urgent request that people refrain from posting photos on the Internet or Facebook until notifications have been completed and confirmed. Thank you.,
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Few details are yet available about a fatal accident at the bottom of Warfield Hill this afternoon. Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue acting captain Glen Gallamore said the call came in at 12:45 p.m. regarding a semi-trailer that lost its brakes on Highway 3B and rolled near Tennyson Avenue. He also confirmed that a second vehicle was involved, but it remains unclear exactly what happened, or why the runaway side road wasn’t used.
At least one person is being transported to hospital.
Details will likely be slow coming at this point, until all affected parties have been notified.
Traffic has been reduced to single-lane alternating, and motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible.
Once again, residents are strongly urged to refrain from posting identifying photographs of people or vehicles until police have confirmed notification of impacted families and friends.