NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN
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VOL. 47 ISSUE 56
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PIER PRESSURE
NEWS PENTICTON WESTERN Mark Brett
Western News Staff
Rene Bourque was still counting his blessings Wednesday, after the previous night’s accident which left his 28-foot boat balanced precariously on the Kiwanis Walking Pier. At the same time, he urged the City of Penticton to improve the after-dark visibility of the structure to reduce the chances of someone else hitting it. Incredibly, neither Bourque, his female passenger, or the young people on the pier at the time of the incident were seriously injured. The woman on the boat did receive a small cut to the side of her face. “I came in and I throttled down and I was turning and I saw the dock but I thought I was further out and then I looked up and I said, ‘oh no,’ I just didn’t have time,” recalled Bourque. “I was only going 20 kilometres (an hour) and me and the girl were standing at the windshield and neither one of us saw it. I just thank God the water level was so high.” The boat collided with the pier about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday as the couple were returning from a trip to Kelowna. The only illumination currently on the pier is a red navigation light located at the very end, which blinks approximately every six seconds. A Transport Canada official indicated this week the pier will be reviewed to “ensure the safety of navigation.” But that is not good enough for Bourque.
MarkBrett/Western Brett/WesternNews News Mark
OFFICIALS CHECK the scene of an accident involving a cabin cruiser Wednesday morning at the Kiwanis Walking Pier. No one on the boat, or those on the pier, were seriously injured in the incident.
“They need more lights on the According to Cpl. Dan MoskaThis was not the first time a vesdock and if they (city) don’t put luk the man’s blood-alcohol level sel has hit the pier at night. them in I’m going to buy them was at the “cusp” of being just over In a similar incident about 16 myself, I’ll pay for them,” he said, or under the legal limit, but he was years ago, Stan Kurtz was killed inadding even if the pier was white, it not charged. stantly when his boat collided with would be easier to see. The boat operator said he had the pier. His friend and co-worker We would like to the introduce to the Beltone the evening When police attended sceneyou some alcoholMicro-Invisa, earlier in the John Rae, who actually helped prep smallest and most advanced aid we’ve ever offered. initially, they noticed a smell of hearing but was not impaired. According VIRTUALLY to Bourque’s Bayliner prior to its reINVISIBLE alcohol on Bourque and he gave a police he is being investigated for moval from the pier Wednesday, The Micro-Invisa strikes aone refinedunsafe balanceor between comfort and breath sample there and another dangerous operation of a was also at that accident scene. sound excellence. Small enoughvessel. to fit on a dime, yet equipped at the detachment. His description of what he saw with cutting-edge sound processing technology. The Micro-Invisa was engineered for discriminating individuals who demand great sound quality AND superb comfort.
on his arrival is too graphic to recount, however it is something forever etched in his mind. “His boat went underneath the dock and the bottom of the dock hit the top of the boat and then his head,” said Rae, who operates Raezor’s Edge Marine Services. “There were no lights on it (pier) and he never saw it. “They could put other lights on the bottom of the dock, or you could put reflectors at water level, anything would be better than what it is now.” He added the onshore lights blend in with the navigation beacon which also makes it difficult to see. “If your travelling at any speed and you might have missed the first blink and by the second one you’re already on top of it (pier) and it’s too late because the rest of the dock’s not lit,” said Rae. Greg Garward, who operates boats for nearby Pier Water Sports, agreed: “You can hit that thing very easily. I know it’s there but it is still hard to see, especially with the glare off the water and the reflection of the lights.” Chuck Loewen, the city’s general manager of facilities and recreation services, said when it comes to lighting, the municipality is bound by government navigation requirements. “We’re going to check into this to make sure we have all ducks in a row and if there is anything we can add into we will, but we will not do anything that contravenes their jurisdiction,” he said. “We will do whatever is required, whatever is necessary as much as we can.”
e would like to introduce you to the Beltone Micro-Invisa, the We would like to introduce youW to the Beltone Micro-Invisa, the smallest smallest and most advanced hearing aid we’ve ever offered. and most advanced hearing aid we’ve ever offered. Come inWand seelike this marvel yourself. Call to book The Micro-Invisa strikes a refined balance between comfort and e would to tiny introduce you for to the Beltone Micro-Invisa, the your The Micro-Invisa strikes a refined balance between comfort and sound sound excellence. Small enough to fit on a dime, yet equipped VIRTUALLY appointment smallesttoday! and most advanced hearing aid we’ve ever offered. cutting-edge sound technology. Micro-Invisa excellence. Small enough to fiwith t on a dime, yetprocessing equipped withThecuttingA hearing aid so small they’ll never know it’s thereINVISIBLE was engineered for discriminating individuals who demand great edge sound processing technology. TheAND Micro-Invisa was engineered for sound quality superb comfort. The Micro-Invisa strikes a refined balance between comfort and discriminating individuals whoCome demand great sound quality superb in and see this tiny marvel for yourself. AND Call to book your sound excellence. Small enough to fit on a dime, yet equipped appointment today! comfort. with cutting-edge sound processing technology. The Micro-Invisa was engineered for discriminating individuals who demand great Come in and see this tiny marvel for yourself. Call to book your sound quality AND superb comfort. appointment today!
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