Lumber-truck driver's skills avert tragedy
Quick action by the driver of a lumber truck loaded with 90,000 pounds of wood averted a tragedy on a busy Kamloops highway on Thursday, Jan. 24.
Kamloops RCMP and rescue personnel were called to the intersection of Highway 5 and the Halston Connector at 6:40 am.. after the lumber truck collided with a pickup truck.
Police say the lumber truck was travelling south on Highway 5 at about 70 km/h when a northbound pickup truck made a sudden left turn in front of the lumber truck, which had a green light in the intersection.
Mounties say the driver of the lumber truck did a great job in stopping his huge rig, which ended up colliding with the passenger-side rear fender of the pickup truck.
The collision turned the pickup 180 degrees and it slid into the traffic light standard in the intersection.
The driver of the pickup truck received a minor cut to his face and was advised to seek treatment at Royal Inland Hospital.
Traffic was snarled in one southbound lane on Highway 5 as the pickup truck and lumber truck were removed.
The pickup was totalled in the crash and the lumber truck sustained about $8,000 in damage.




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