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Miracle she wasn't crushed

Motorists are wondering why a section of Highway 1 wasn't closed when rocks rained down from the cliffside.

Several vehicles were damaged earlier this week near Three Valley Gap when they were caught in a rock slide.

Shannon Smith is lucky to be alive after her 2018 Chevy Equinox, which she had purchased two hours prior, was struck by a large boulder, destroying the vehicle.

“I was following my husband who was directly in front of me, when a wall of large rocks and debris came out of nowhere, striking the vehicle. All I could think was to pull the steering wheel to the right so I didn't go in to the (lake). The next thing I remember is hearing my husband calling my name and the smell of the airbags. And then my husband's face in the passenger window,” said Smith, who had to be freed from the wreckage using the jaws of life.

“He figures it was a rock the size of the fireplace in your living room. It hit the front of my car and the pavement at the same time and I pretty much went through it. I don't understand why the highway was open when they had a loader there clearing debris.”

Smith, who lives in Revelstoke, said she is not casting blame on anyone, but does have some questions for Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, as does Sam Lachman.

The Coldstream resident also had his vehicle damaged before Smith had her vehicle totalled.

“There were three vehicles westbound and one eastbound that encountered the rocks,” said the Coldstream resident. “It took out both front tires and I have damage all along one side where the rocks hit it. There was a car behind us that had the windshield smashed. It really should have been closed, if they can't maintain the hill, they should stop the traffic.”

Castanet contacted the MoTI who said “very heavy rain and strong winds likely contributed to the rock fall event. Rock scaling has taken place this year along the Three Valley Bluffs.”

An email from Danielle Pope, media relations with the MOTI said, “Every effort is made to protect the safety of the travelling public; it is our top priority.

“Rock fall is a natural event, but rock slope stabilization projects are prioritized and carried out to reduce potential rock fall hazards.

“The stabilization work typically involves activities such as rock scaling, slope meshing and rock blasting.

“Our maintenance contractor patrols the highway regularly. It had a loader stationed at Three Valley Gap (Tuesday) that enabled the rocks to be removed quickly.

“When a rock slide occurs, a geotechnical engineer assesses the site for the risk of further rock fall. Once the geotechnical assessment determines that it is safe, the maintenance contractor clears the road.”



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