Ashcroft RCMP and Central Interior Traffic Services Unit responded to a report of a single vehicle, fatal motor vehicle incident which occurred in the bluffs of Hwy 97C on Tuesday March 17 at approximately 5:30 pm.
Local taxi driver, Donald George Alford, 63, of Cache Creek, succumbed to his injuries as a result of the collision. There were no passengers in the taxi at the time, although the vehicle was transporting luggage for an earlier passenger which made police consider that there may have been someone else in the taxi. The owner of the luggage was located and was not involved in the accident.
The initial investigation determined that the west-bound taxi had crossed the centre line at a sharp angle, making hard contact with a sheer rock face on the south side of the highway.
The highway was closed in both directions for approximately five hours between 5:30-10:30 pm while RCMP, Ashcroft Fire Department, Search and Rescue, Paramedics, Coroners Service, Ministry of Transportation and a RCMP Collision Re-constructionist jointly investigated the scene.
Any witnesses to this collision are asked to contact Cpl. Andrew West of the Central Interior Traffic Services Unit at the Ashcroft RCMP Detachment at (250) 453-2216.