PRESTIGIOUS HONOUR | Ruth Hoyte named Vernon’s Woman of the Year [A4]
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Sunday, May 12, 2013
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Senior Games bid delayed RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Emergency crews attend to the two occupants of a flying car that crashed behind Ellison Elementary School Friday morning.
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Flying car crashes near school RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Ray Siebring is ready to soar again although he came close to being permanently grounded. Siebring and a passenger sustained non-life threatening injuries after his Maverick flying car slammed into a tree near Ellison Elementary Friday at 8:45 a.m. “It was a life-altering event,” said the Kelowna pilot who helped build the craft. “I’m ready to get back in the saddle but I want to find out the cause so I can make it safer.” Siebring was preparing to land at the Vernon Airport after a demonstration flight when he lost control of the Maverick, which is a car fabricated with an aircraft engine and fabric wing. “There was either some meteorological event that caused us to make a sharp left turn or it was mechanical error. It started to spiral,” he said. With altitude dropping, Siebring started looking for places to land. “I decided on the least populated place and that was the (school) field,” he said. The craft brushed over the field, clipped a
fence and then came to rest up against a tree next to Vernon Creek. Witnesses provided medical assistance to Siebring and the passenger until paramedics arrived. “I’m feeling pretty sore and there are a few cuts and bruises. It looks like I was in a bar fight,” he said, adding that his passenger has bruises. The descending aircraft was visible to a number of people. “It looked like he was setting up to land and the canopy slumped forward,” said Russ Niles, a writer for Canadian Aviator magazine, who was at the airport and waiting to go for a ride in the flying car. “It seems like it was a aerodynamic stall. It looked like he tried to power out of it and he almost made it.” Jennifer Watson was walking her dogs at Clarence Fulton Secondary when she looked up and saw something was wrong. “I saw it start spinning. I didn’t know where it landed,” she said.
The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. “We are hoping to gather information to determine the cause of the accident,” said Bill Yearwood, TSB regional manager. “We will inspect the structure and aerodynamic features.” Siebring says the craft’s safety measures performed as they should, but he will be reviewing onboard recording devices as well as video taken from the ground. “We’re not giving up on this technology and the dream,” he said. All Ellison students were inside the school at the time, but counsellors have been made available to students and staff. “Students will continue to be monitored for signs of emotional impact,” said Don Wilcox, director of student support services with the Vernon School District. A portion of the school’s sports day had to be postponed because part of the playing field was closed off for the Transportation Safety Board investigation.
If Greater Vernon lands a major sports event, it may be slightly delayed. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee had originally decided to pursue the 2016 B.C. Seniors Games but the bid will now be switched to 2017. “There is interest in holding the 30th anniversary games,” said Tannis Nelson, community development coordinator, referring to the founding of the B.C. Seniors Games Society in 1987. Greater Vernon hosted the first seniors games in 1988. However, at least one politician is concerned that pushing back the bid may send the wrong message to residents who were asked recently to borrow $7.5 million for a running track and sports fields. “To postpone, the public may say what was the rush in the first place?” said chairperson Mike Macnabb. Others, though, say a delay by a year will provide more time to see how the new sports facility, which will open in 2014, performs. “We can operate for a couple of years and see how the facility works,” said director Bob Fleming. Fleming also added that there would be more time for community groups to fundraise for items not included in the $7.5 million, such as covered seating. Nelson has brought together sports groups interested in assisting with the games. “They would like to start preparing for the bid right away,” she said. Previous B.C. Seniors Games have generated about $2.5 million in economic impact for their host communities, and that is a major focus for GVAC. “We have also heard from local businesses that even small tournaments bring in revenue,” said Nelson of football, soccer, lacrosse and track and field.
Bring your clutter & help fight cancer!
Proudly sponsored by
, Yard Sale for the Cure is an annual fundraiser event held in selected neighbourhoods across Canada. Since 2005, over $1,000,000 has been raised for Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Saturday, May 25th,2013- 8:00 am – 1:00 pm,
There are 3 ways you can help: 1. DONATE
3. Come and SHOP
Vernon parking lot - 5603 - 27th Street
stuff you no longer need 2. DROP OFF items at the RE/MAX Vernon or Armstrong office Call VERNON at 250-549-4161 to donate.