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UPDATE: Driver in hit and run near Playmor Junction turns himself in

The Castlegar man saw the photo of his truck on media coverage of the collision
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Police are looking for witnesses and dash cam footage around the Playmor Junction on March 21. Photo courtesy Nelson RCMP

A 37-year-old Castlegar man wanted in connection with a March 21 hit and run has turned himself in to the Castlegar RCMP.

Corp. Derek Pitt said the man made the decision after seeing the photo of his truck on media coverage of the incident.

The incident occurred on Highway 3A near the Playmor Junction when a grey or silver half-ton GMC pickup truck left the scene of a collision, according to Nelson RCMP.

Three vehicles with a total of four occupants were involved in the collisions.

The driver of the truck has been arrested and released and is scheduled to appear in Castlegar court on May 31.

Castlegar News spoke to the driver of one of the vehicles, a white Nissan Versa, who confirmed that he and a passenger were transported to hospital by ambulance after the collision.

Both occupants of the vehicle were college students commuting home from school in Nelson.

The driver said the light at the junction of Highways 3A and 6 had just turned green as he approached the intersection, but he was at the end of a long line of traffic, so still had to slow down.

“We had gotten back up to about 70 km/h and suddenly I was struck from behind and pushed into oncoming traffic,” said the driver.

He says he barely missed a head-on collision with a vehicle in the oncoming lane.

“I didn’t even know what kind of vehicle had hit me, I was just focused on staying alive.”

The Nissan is a complete write-off. The student initially learned from ICBC that his insurance would not cover the incident unless the other driver was caught and that person’s insurance could be charged.

With finals looming, he is now faced with trying to figure out how to make it to school in order to complete the semester.

The student says he is shaken up and shocked that something like this would happen around here.

Anyone with information or dash cam footage is asked to contact the Nelson RCMP at 250-352-2156.

READ MORE: Trail RCMP looking for tips after 2 dogs die; one confirmed poisoned with strychnine



betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com

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Betsy Kline

About the Author: Betsy Kline

After spending several years as a freelance writer for the Castlegar News, Betsy joined the editorial staff as a reporter in March of 2015. In 2020, she moved into the editor's position.
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