Necessary evil: road closures protect critical evidence after crashes
NANAIMO — Mounties say there’s good reason behind hugely unpopular road closures after a crash, like the one which snarled highway traffic in Parksville last weekend.
The northbound lanes of busy Highway 19 were closed for several hours on Saturday, June 17 following a three vehicle crash near the Englishman River bridge.
Central Island Traffic Services RCMP Cst. Doug Pennington said a decision to shut down or restrict traffic following serious crashes is made based on the need to preserve evidence. Sometimes long stretches must be closed so the investigation isn’t compromised.
“What do I have? Do I have a motor vehicle infraction or do I have a criminal investigation?” Pennington told NanaimoNewsNOW. “That’s when you have to consider ‘I have to close the highway, or portion of the highway, to preserve the evidence.’”