An investigation continues into an incident where two tires from a Delta dump truck came off and struck a moving vehicle on Highway 1.
Glacier Media confirmed with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit that Commercial Vehicle and Safety Enforcement (CVSE) officers are still investigating the Nov. 28 incident.
Just before 11 a.m., a dump truck was travelling eastbound on Highway 1 when two trailer tires came off.
One of the tires careened across the median between the highway and hit a vehicle head-on.
Leanne Smith suffered non-life-threatening injuries when the tire collided with her vehicle.
“It was very scary and I just don’t know how someone can be so careless,” she told Glacier Media in a previous interview. “It just could have been a totally catastrophic accident.”
BC Highway Patrol and CVSE officers investigated and determined the 60-year-old driver made a false pre-trip report.
Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said RCMP and CVSE have fined the dump truck driver and the company, which are both based in Delta.
Nearly $700 in fines were issued to the driver, for the false pre-trip report and for not having a vehicle that is appropriate for the highway.
When asked if the driver could face more fines, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said that would depend on the results of the ongoing investigation.
"As indicated, CVSE is investigating this incident and, subject to the results of the investigation, additional fines could be issued to the driver or the company,” said the spokesperson.
CVSE would not comment on whether it's dealt with the Delta company before, just that all carrier safety ratings are available online.
In Ontario, wheel separations are considered a serious offence and commercial drivers can face fines between $2,000 and $50,000.
A driver can be issued with a provincial court summons under the Highway Traffic Act in Ontario. Upon conviction, the driver is liable to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $50,000.
A ministry spokesperson said this is unlike B.C., where a penalty is immediate.
“The penalty in Ontario for tire separation is subject to court determination,” said the spokesperson.
