By CHIEF ROB DUTTCHEN, Corman Park Police Service
This past week saw another two dangerous vehicles removed from the roadway, preventing possible catastrophes.
On the afternoon of February 9, a Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) officer observed a double-axle flat deck trailer being operated on a secondary roadway. The trailer was missing wheels on the front axle. A traffic stop was initiated and further investigation determined that the front axle was split into two, dangling freely and perilously close to causing a catastrophic failure. The driver was issued four offence notices and an inspection ticket under The Traffic Safety Act (TSA).
While patrolling on the afternoon of February 10, police observed a vehicle in a state of disrepair being operated on Highway 16 in the vicinity of Township Road 380. Prompted by concerns for the vehicle’s roadworthiness, the CPPS member initiated a traffic stop.
The roadside investigation revealed not only that it was in a state of disrepair, but that the driver was operating under the influence of cocaine, the vehicle was stolen, the driver provided a false name, and the driver was prohibited from operating a motor vehicle. This incident demonstrates how what begins as a routine traffic stop for an apparently unsafe vehicle can quickly uncover far more serious criminal activity, highlighting the critical role of proactive traffic enforcement in detecting impaired drivers, stolen property, identity fraud, and prohibited drivers.
Then, in the early evening of February 11, CPPS observed a vehicle travelling at 110 km/h on Highway 16. The officer’s attention was drawn to the vehicle as sparks were cascading from the front driver’s side wheel well area. CPPS intercepted the vehicle and, upon closer inspection, determined that the front tire was so severely worn that its internal cords were exposed, creating an imminent risk of a sudden blowout that could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash. The driver was charged under the TSA and the vehicle was taken off the road as unsafe to proceed.
CPPS reminds motorists that if you feel unusual feedback from your vehicle’s steering system, see sparks, smell burning material, or notice a change in the force required to steer or accelerate, these are all signs of potential serious danger.
You should activate your hazard lights, remove your foot from the gas, and immediately begin a slow and deliberate deceleration, braking gently. As soon as the vehicle is slowed to a safe speed, stop at a suitable roadside location.
Sudden, violent inputs and hard braking should be avoided as they may precipitate a catastrophic failure. Once stopped, you should walk around the vehicle looking for visible defects around and beneath the car. If you lack the knowledge or ability to inspect your own vehicle, we recommend you call for a tow truck and have your vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic.
Using funding from SGI, on the evening of February 12, CPPS deployed members as part of the High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) initiative. Using a mobile patrol Checkstop, CPPS stopped dozens of vehicles in various locations in and around the RM of Corman Park. Police located one suspect operating under the influence of cocaine, and another driver was issued a 72 hour suspension for impairment by alcohol. The HVE program and SGI are crucial partners working with CPPS to enhance road safety across the RM.
In the twilight morning hours of Friday the 13th, a vehicle was driving on Valley Road in the vicinity of Range Road 3016. The driver glanced down to retrieve his coffee cup and when he looked up there was a cow on the roadway. Unable to stop, the vehicle struck the bovine broadside at full speed. The small car was destroyed from the impact: the front end crumpled all the way back to the shattered windshield, the hood folded up like an accordion, the bumper and headlights torn away, glass shattered, full airbag deployment and the roofline buckled where the cow rode up over the car.
The driver was taken to hospital in serious condition but was subsequently treated and released. The cow succumbed to the injuries it sustained in the crash. The police investigation into how the animal ended up at large is ongoing.
The evening of February 14, CPPS welcomed the Honourable Micheal Weger, Minister of Community Safety to participate in a ride-a-long. The Minister was provided an overview of CPPS operations and challenges and participated in patrols around the RM. The Minister shared his priorities and his vision of making Saskatchewan a province where it is extremely difficult for criminals to transit and operate.
The alignment between the Minister’s vision and our CPPS goal of making the RM of Corman Park one of the safest places in Saskatchewan to live and run a business is striking. We look forward to supporting the Minister’s vision and seeking opportunities for collaboration with the Ministry and all of our law enforcement partners.