Four teenagers hit by a drunk driver, Kamloops BC

A 41-year-old Merritt man is in police custody facing a variety of alcohol and driving related charges after his 1992 Jeep Cherokee went out of control and struck a group of teenagers walking in the 2100 block of Parkcrest Ave around 10:40 pm on Sunday night.

There were six youths ranging in age from 12-14 years old in the group when the Jeep skidded off the road at a high rate of speed striking four of the children. Three of the four youths were taken to Royal Inland Hospital with serious injuries including cuts, bruises, sprains and broken teeth. The fourth teenager was rushed to hospital with severe head trauma, facial fractures and chest injuries. He remains in stable condition while the others were expected to be treated and released this date.

The driver was arrested at the scene for Impaired Driving and transported back to the Kamloops City RCMP detachment where breath samples were provided. These samples were recorded at more than twice the legal limit. Police will be forwarding a report to Crown Counsel today recommending charges of Sec. 255 C.C. – Impaired Driving causing bodily harm x 4, Sec. 249(3) C.C. – Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Harm x 4, Sec. 253(1)(a) C.C. – Care and Control While Impaired, Sec. 253(1)(b) C.C. – Drive While Over .08, Sec. 733.1 C.C. – Breach of Undertaking, Sec. 234 MVA – Drive While Suspended. The breach of undertaking charge stems from a previous court order where the driver was to abstain from liquor.

Witnesses who observed the Jeep driving just moments before the crash indicated that the vehicle was being operated erratically and at a very high rate of speed before it lost control and skidded into the group of youths. Police are seeking information from any other witnesses who may have observed an older model blue Jeep Cherokee with a for sale sign on the rear and a Canucks flag in the window being driven in town between 10:00 and 10:40 pm Sunday evening.

Parkcrest Ave. was closed for much of the evening while investigators from Kamloops RCMP Traffic Section and a RCMP Collision Analyst from the South East District remained at the site piecing together physical evidence from the scene.