BC Highway Patrol charges dump truck driver after the wheels fall off and hit another vehicle
By Castlegar Source
A Delta, BC, dump truck driver and his company are facing stiff fines and inspections after the wheels on the truck fell off and collided with another vehicle.
The collision happened November 28, 2024, just before 11:00 a.m. on Highway #1 near the #3 Road offramp. BC Highway Patrol officers were on scene immediately and learned that an eastbound dump truck was travelling in the passing lane when two of its wheels came loose. One of those wheels crossed the highway and struck a westbound SUV head on, causing serious damage.
BC Highway Patrol worked with Commercial Vehicle and Safety Enforcement (CVSE) officers to lay two charges against the dump truck driver:
- Making a false or deceptive pre-trip statement, section 37.74(2)(a)(1) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (a fine of $598);
- Driving a motor vehicle that is not in compliance with the Motor Vehicle Act, section 219(1)(34) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act (a fine of $109).
“In addition to nearly $700 in fines, the ten-year-old dump truck was removed from the road and ordered to undergo a complete, mandatory inspection and repairs at the truck company’s expense,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “This was completely preventable with a proper pre-trip inspection. BC Highway Patrol has a low tolerance for commercial vehicles that are not properly maintained.”
The elderly driver of the SUV did not appear to have serious injuries, but she was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The dump truck driver is a 60-year-old Delta man who was unhurt. The company that owns the truck is also in Delta. Neither impairment nor distraction appeared to be factors.
