BC

RCMP in the Salmon Arm area were kept busy with New Year's Eve revellers who decided to take their chances drinking and driving.

Three of them failed to make it home safely - all falling victim to single vehicle accidents.

Just prior to midnight, police responded to a crash on 14 Avenue SE in Salmon Arm.

Police located an abandoned black truck on its side in the ditch. The driver had fled the scene.

Photo: Contributed

The driver was located a short distance away and was found to be under the influence of alcohol.

The 26-year-old man from Alberta was issued a 90-day roadside prohibition and had his vehicle impounded for 30 days.

Shortly after 1 a.m. New Year's Day police were called to a second accident on Cedar Road in Blind Bay.

The 60-year-old driver and lone occupant lost control of his vehicle, left the road and struck a tree before coming to rest over the edge of the road.

The driver sustained injuries to his face and back.

He was impaired - charges are pending.

A third incident occurred shortly before 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 1 and Okanagan Avenue NE where a vehicle had struck a tree.

Three people inside the vehicle suffered a variety of non-life threatening injuries.

The 19-year-old male driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol and a subsequent blood demand was made.

Charges are expected to be laid.