7141 replies to this topic

[Sparky]

Farnworth is too busy looking into the Elsner/Helps/Desjardins conspiracy/coverup/scandal.

[Redd42]

 

 

Stop tailgating, people!

 

This! Along with folks continuing to turn left long after the light has turned red, tailgating seems to now be the common thing to do. I drove out to Butchart last night on West Saanich Rd. Both directions I had some one riding my butt. I used to commute that route and many times have had deer dash in front of my car. Makes me so nervous when people do this. 

[Mike K.]

How could this have happened?

Investigation Continues After Serious Weekend Collision

Victoria, BC- Officers from our Patrol and Traffic Sections continue their investigation into a serious collision yesterday afternoon.

Just before 1:00 p.m., Patrol Officers were called to the area of Oswego and Belleville Streets for the report of a collision between a vehicle and a cyclist.

The initial investigation has revealed that a man was towing a vehicle that had broken down. The broken down vehicle was being towed by another vehicle utilizing a tow strap. The cyclist struck the tow strap as they cycled westbound on Belleville Street. The cyclist was transported to hospital with potentially life threatening injuries. The Collision Reconstruction Team was called out and traffic was diverted for some time while evidence was collected.

The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and is cooperative with investigators.

If anybody witnessed the collision and have not spoken to officers, call us at 250-995-7654.

[Rob Randall]

Isn't a tow strap at least 20 feet long? 

 

That's a special pair of idiots.

[Rob Randall]

I'm thinking the morons were turning right onto Belleville to the Coho terminal. I bet they were trying to get a disabled car onto the ferry back to Washington. Why else would you be attempting that on Belleville?

[Victoria Watcher]

15 to 30 feet maybe depending on type.  surely it's not legal to tow around another vehicle.  wow.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 August 2019 - 03:03 PM.

[shoeflack]

Here are the two vehicles in question with the tow strap between them.

 

[Victoria Watcher]

 

oh boy.  did somebody rent a car to pull their truck up?  and if so why oh why did the person/people at the coho or clipper terminal not tell them that was a real bad idea?  it's certainly easy to understand how a bike with a bit of speed could rally be impacted by hitting that cable he could not see.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 August 2019 - 03:25 PM.

[shoeflack]

Essentially the only time this tow setup is legal in BC is to pull a vehicle out of the ditch/mud/etc. Never legal to tow someone down a busy street in this fashion.

[Jackerbie]

^ Methinks that's a Budget sticker, not National

[Victoria Watcher]

you might be right on the sticker.

[Victoria Watcher]

Essentially the only time this tow setup is legal in BC is to pull a vehicle out of the ditch/mud/etc. Never legal to tow someone down a busy street in this fashion.

 

it's also not an easy/safe/undamaging operation for either driver.  especially one that's driving an unfamiliar rental and one that's probably never ever been dead-towed before. 

 

what a catastrophe.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 August 2019 - 03:36 PM.

[Mike K.]

Do we know if the cyclist was wearing a helmet? By the looks of it he/she would have flipped once getting caught up in the tow strap, crashing head first onto the pavement.

 

The plate on the SUV looks like it's from Washington, but it's hard to tell.

[shoeflack]

Do we know if the cyclist was wearing a helmet? By the looks of it he/she would have flipped once getting caught up in the tow strap, crashing head first onto the pavement.

The plate on the SUV looks like it's from Washington, but it's hard to tell.

BC plate on the SUV, Washington plate on the truck. Driver came over on the Coho and truck died. Driver then rented an SUV to tow it. I can’t imagine a last minute rental car was much cheaper than an actual tow.

Edited by shoeflack, 19 August 2019 - 05:13 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

the whole thing is tragic and sad.  again what adult in the terminal parking area where they hooked it up knew this was happening?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 August 2019 - 05:38 PM.

[Mike K.]

BC plate on the SUV, Washington plate on the truck. Driver came over on the Coho and truck died. Driver then rented an SUV to tow it. I can’t imagine a last minute rental car was much cheaper than an actual tow.

Not to be pedantic, but there is no truck in that photo. It’s a Chevy SUV that’s being towed (either a Suburban or an extended Tahoe).

And judging by the lifted chassis that vehicle has seen the better side of the outdoors, and likely why the driver would have been very comfortable towing it in that fashion, but he didn’t think this through very well.

He also rented a crossover that was not rated for towing a Chevy Suburban, for gosh sake. Those little crossovers will tow your garden refuse to the dump, and that’s about it unless you have the towing package and even then a full size SUV with even one occupant and partially loaded would far, far exceed such a small vehicle’s towing capacity.

[Mike K.]

A Buick Enclave (the white car) is rated to tow 1,500 pounds. A bone stock, bone dry Suburban of that vintage weighs 5,500 pounds. If it has the towing package (and it’s doubtful a rental would, but it “might”) the towing capacity goes up to 5,000 pounds.

That driver messed up in a big way.

[LJ]

The apparent fact the driver had a tow strap with him would indicate he has probably had trouble before.

[shoeflack]

Not to be pedantic, but there is no truck in that photo.

Sure, a crummy sidewalk design is no big deal, but this you have to bust my balls over

Will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Always another level of complexity dealing with a (presumably) foreign national. Hope the cyclist pulls through. From some witness descriptions online, sounds like the gentleman went under the vehicle and was pinned.

[Mike K.]

Oh my That’s awful. I had not heard that detail.