A nineteen-year-old Sparwood man is dead and 38-year-old Sparwood man is in stable condition in the Calgary Foothills Hospital after their vehicles collided on Highway 43 on Thursday, September 19.
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the man who died following the motor vehicle accident as Dakottah James Alexander Myles, aged 19, of Sparwood. Myles was the driver and sole occupant of a car, which was in the collision with a pickup truck on Highway 43 about 10 kilometres north of Sparwood.
“The collision, which occurred just before 6 pm, claimed the life of the 19-year-old man who's vehicle crossed the centre line while traveling southbound on the highway,” said East Kootenay Traffic Services (EKTS). “The young man's vehicle collided head on with a northbound pickup. The northbound pickup was driven by a 38 year old Sparwood man.”
Once on scene Elk Valley RCMP and East Kootenay Traffic Services conducted an initial scene examination and witness accounts have assisted in determining that the collision occurred when the southbound passenger car attempted to pass a vehicle in a two lane passing section of roadway. The passenger car was unable to complete the pass safely and collided with the northbound pickup truck.
The driver of the pick-up truck suffered severe injuries to his chest and lower body. He was taken to Sparwood Hospital and later transferred to Calgary Foothills Hospital via STARS air ambulance with serious life threatening injuries. As of Monday, September 23, “the 38 year old Sparwood man was in stable condition in a Calgary Hospital being treated for injuries sustained as a result of failing to wear a seatbelt,” said EKTS.
RCMP Traffic Services investigators and collision reconstruction analyst examined the scene collecting evidence including a black box from one vehicle. Many newer vehicles have what’s commonly referred to as a ‘black box’, which records details like outside temperature.
RCMP reported that the collision occurred during daylight hours and the weather and road conditions at the time were clear and dry with good visibility.
EKTS has not released the name of the injured man.