R.C.M.P. have identified the three victims who died in a violent two vehicle collision 18 kms. north of Highway 3 on Highway 22 just before 9 Sunday morning. They are 52-year old Darrel Johnston of the Crowsnest Pass, 60-year old William Desjardin of Fernie, B.C., and James Hutchinson - 46 - of Fernie. They were in a van that collided with a southbound truck. Two men in the truck suffered non-life threatening injuries - were taken to the Pincher Creek Hospital, then to Calgary's Foothills Hospital. Weather played a major role in the collision. Hail, sleet and wet snow were falling at the time and other motorists reported the road surface was ice and slush covered.
An earlier single vehicle collision in the same area took the life of 54-year old Ralph Simpson of Fernie. He was the driver and lone occupant of a motorcycle that went out of control and hit the ditch Saturday while attempting to pass another vehicle. R.C.M.P say road conditions were good but it was windy at the time.
SOURCE: http://www.am770chqr.com/News/Local/Story.aspx?ID=1141819
