Pedestrian struck, power out, fire started

An Oliver senior left a long trail of debris after a spectacular collision Tuesday evening.

RCMP say shortly after 5:30 p.m. on August 9 a westbound blue 2007 Volkswagen Jetta swerved and struck a pedestrian walking on the eastbound side of the street between 115 and 117 Streets.

Photo: Contributed - Larry Clarke

A woman observes the scene of a collision on 350 Avenue on Tuesday evening in Oliver. Two men were hospitalized.

The car, driven by a 76-year-old Oliver resident, then swerved back to the westbound side of the street and struck a power pole further down the road.

The impact sheared the pole and caused the car to flip.

"The strike of the power pole sent ripples down the power lines to about 107 Street, and that is where an arc came down and started a grass fire," says Oliver Fire Department spokesperson Spencer Tribbick.

The grass fire quickly spread into a hedge and the front lawn of a home.

Tribbick says radiant heat from the blaze melted the siding off the home, but the interior of the home was not damaged.

The pedestrian, a 60-year-old man, received serious but non life threatening injuries.

RCMP say the driver of the vehicle also sustained injuries.

The cause of the crash is being investigated but at this time does not appear to be speed or alcohol related.

Power to several hundred customers was reportedly knocked out due to the pole being sheared.