Another petition calls for highway barrier after fatal crash

Photo: What The Fungus

Simon-Pierre Houde has been identified by his employer as the victim of a fatal crash in Peachland Friday.

The tragic death of Simon-Pierre Houde, a young Summerland farmer who fell victim to a fatal car crash in Peachland, has prompted residents to create yet another a petition calling for the installation of a centre barrier on Highway 97 south of West Kelowna.

"A simple centre barrier installed will fix the major issue of people dying from vehicles crossing the centre line," said Chad Garrecht, explaining this particular petition is calling for a barrier starting on Drought Hill all the way until the highway turns into four lanes in Summerland.

There was a similar petition that started earlier this year by Mick Harper following a fatal crash — that petition garnered just under 27,000 signatures in January. 

Penticton MLA Dan Ashton even presented the petition in the BC Legislature calling the concrete divider barrier "life-saving." At the time, the provincial governments said it was "undertaking an analysis to see if further investigation into median barriers on this corridor is warranted."

Garrecht said a simple divider installed to stop vehicles from crossing the line can save lives.

"This makes two people who have lost their lives in the last six months alone, not including countless others over the last few decades."