A drunk pedestrian walking down the middle of Highway 99 was lucky to walk away after being hit by a vehicle.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning (March 10) shortly before 6 a.m. according to Whistler RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair.
LeClair said when officers arrived on scene the driver of the vehicle, who was sober at the time, advised that as he was driving on the road near Village Gate that the pedestrian was walking in the middle of the road, wearing all black and he had to swerve at the last minute to avoid hitting him with the vehicle.
While the pedestrian, a 23-year-old Australian tourist, was not hit head on, he was clipped by the side mirror of the vehicle, but refused be taken to the health centre. LeClair said the man was lucky the driver saw him and reacted to avoid hitting him.
“This is a reminder to pedestrians to stay off the roadway, wear reflective clothing or perhaps obtain one of our Walk Safe reflectors,” LeClair said, adding “if you are going to be out and become intoxicated, have a safe way home.”
Walk Safe reflectors can be obtained at the Whistler RCMP detachment or the Whistler Question offices.
More rental fraud
Rental frauds continued to be reported to RCMP over the past week.
LeClair said last Wednesday (March 6) they were informed of a scam over Craigslist when a visitor from Massachusetts reported the incident. The victim transferred $1,500 to a bank in Ohio to rent a property that didn’t exist.
Last Saturday (March 9) a rental fraud was reported in the 4300 block of Northlands Boulevard. The complainant from Vancouver reported they transferred $722 through Interac online to rent a suite advertised on Craigslist and purchase ski tickets.
“She showed up at the address and security said there was no rental suite for her,” LeClair said.
Jewelry stolen from gallery
At 4 a.m. on Saturday RCMP responded to an alarm that was triggered at an art gallery on Whistler Way. LeClair said when officers arrived they confirmed a break and enter occurred. The suspects broke through the glass door and then a display case immediately inside the business was smashed and $15,000 worth of jewelry stolen.
Surveillance video was obtained of the incident and police continue to investigate the incident.
Residential and commercial break ins
A residence on the 4000 block Whistler Way was reported broken into sometime between 8 p.m. and midnight on Friday (March 8).
LeClair said the suspect gained access and exited through an unlocked living room window. A GoPro, memory card and charger were stolen from a resident and a roommate in the residence reported a laptop, leather bag, sunglasses and a small amount of cash were taken.
A job site was reported to be broke into as well on Monday (March 11) at 9:41 a.m. LeClair said the complainant indicated tools valued at $500 were stolen from a locked garage on the job site on Cypress place sometime overnight.
Another indecent incident
A Whistler resident reported seeing a man masturbating on the street in front of his residence on the 4300 block of Northlands Boulevard on Sunday at 3 a.m.
LeClair said the man was sitting on his deck when he noticed the suspect with his pants around his knees engaging in the lewd behaviour. The suspect pulled up his pants and walked away and is described as being in his late 20s, Caucasian with short hair.
“He did not say anything, but he was looking directly at the complainant,” LeClair said.
Impaired drivers caught
Police observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed out of a trailer court in Pemberton on to Highway 99 that then fishtailed on the road and continued to accelerate toward Portage Road, according to LeClair.
The 37-year-old Pemberton male displayed signs of impairment when stopped and was issued a 90-day immediate roadside driving prohibition and had his vehicle impounded for 30 days. He also refused to provide a breath sample and will face charges as a result.
Sunday shortly before midnight, Pemberton RCMP received a report of three intoxicated males that had left a restaurant and got in their vehicle. LeClair said the males were also carrying bottles of open alcohol with them and when stopped by officers the driver displayed signs of impairment including slurred speech and the vehicle’s driver’s side front tire was flat.
The driver received a 90-day driving prohibition and the vehicle was impounded, while a ticket for open liquor in a vehicle and driving without a licence ticket were also issued to the 23-year-old Pemberton male.
Family assault
A fight between brothers living in Whistler ended with police being called and charges laid.
LeClair said last Thursday (March 7) police received a report from a man living on the 6500 block of Balsam Way that his brother came at him with a knife and threatened to kill him. The suspect in the assault lived upstairs, while the victim lived downstairs in the unit.
“The incident stemmed from an argument over housing issues in the residence,” LeClair said, adding police arrested the 52-year-old man and he faces charges of assault with a weapon and uttering threats and was released with conditions not to return to the residence or have contact with the victim.
Road safety reminder
Pemberton RCMP are reminding the public to take care at crosswalks throughout the village after several recent reports of drivers failing to yield to pedestrians.
LeClair said the crosswalk at Portage Road and Flint Street near Signal Hill Elementary and at Portage Road and Cottonwood near the skateboard park are locations about which complaints have been received.
“Drivers are reminded they must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks,” he said, adding failure to do so could result in a $167 fine and three demerit points.
