KEREMEOS – Two people were recently charged under the Motor Vehicle Act after an October accident on Highway 3 west of Keremeos that killed five big horn sheep.
A group of the sheep were crossing the highway east of Standing Rock at around 4:00 p.m. that afternoon. Police say two pick-up trucks headed east “failed to stop for the crossing sheep.” According to the RCMP, the resulting collision killed five of the sheep and injured another two. Police say vehicles headed in the opposite direction came to a stop and waited for the sheep to cross.
“Some of the sheep were thrown from the impact into the stopped westbound vehicles,” wrote Cpl. Dan Moskaluk in a media statement. “Charges under the Motor Vehicle Act of failing to report accidental killing of wildlife on highway, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and drive without consideration of others have been laid.”
The RCMP would not specify which driver was facing which charge or where the drivers were from.
“This tragic collision is a grim reminder that as drivers we need to do our part in safe guarding the wildlife in our communities. When you see highway signs advising you of wildlife being in the area, please heed to the warnings and drive with caution,” wrote Moskaluk.
Moskaluk says any accident with a large wild animal that results in damage to a vehicle or kills the animal should be reported.
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