Twenty-five people have died on B.C. roadways in just 10 days, prompting a warning from not only B.C.'s coroner but also highway patrol police.
The BC Coroners Service confirms with Glacier Media there have been 25 motor vehicle-related deaths between July 5 and July 15.
This new statistic comes on the heels of acting chief coroner John McNamee asking people in British Columbia to take extra care while driving.
Between July 5 and July 10, there were 19 vehicle-related deaths in B.C., according to the coroner.
BC Highway Patrol officers released a statement on Wednesday, pleading with drivers around the province to slow down. The police officers have been "floored" by multiple excessive speeders.
Insp. Chad Badry says since July 1, BC Highway Patrol has issued 132 violation tickets — and counting — for excessive speeding.
"Every driver needs to realize that the consequences for excessive speeding go far beyond getting an expensive ticket and your vehicle impounded,” says Badry. "You have far less time to react to anything when going that fast which is why excessive speed is so deadly.”
Between July 8 and July 15, 2024, BC Highway Patrol officers in the Central Okanagan area stopped 40 drivers for excessive speeding.
On July 14, a police officer in Squamish caught the driver of a car and a motorcyclist travelling more than 140 km/h in a 70 zone. When the officer stopped the drivers, they learned the person in the car was "clearing" the route for the motorcyclist. Both vehicles were impounded.
On the same day, a driver was travelling 122 km/h in a 60 zone and failed to stop for police. The individual was later located by the Delta Police Department.
In Prince George on July 14, police caught a Volkswagen Jetta on Highway 97 travelling 122 km/h in a 70 zone. The driver was unlicensed and without insurance. Police discovered this driver was stopped days earlier in Alberta for going 212 km/h in a 100 zone.
Excessive speed is more than 40 km/h over the posted speed limit.
