A female motorist who hit the ditch on Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows on Saturday is doing better than initially expected.
The 50-year-old woman escaped with minor injuries despite her vehicle being wrecked after hitting a pole on the westbound side of the highway in the 18300-block, just after 7:30 p.m.
The motorist was “quite fortunate,” given the condition of the vehicle, said Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.
“It appeared to be much worse at the scene,” than what it turned out to be.
The accident happened after a Ridge Meadows RCMP vehicle put on its emergency lights to signal another vehicle to pull over. That vehicle made a sudden lane change, causing the following vehicle driven by the woman to leave the road.
“Whether it was a result of that or of them making a lane change, we’re still investigating. But that person did make a lane change, which caused the other driver to make a manoeuvre which got her off the road.”
Apart from that, Dunlop reports a fairly quiet Christmas and Boxing Day in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, apart from another attack on community mail boxes.
Some time on Dec. 26, someone damaged the mail boxes on 223rd Street and 126th Avenue.
Dunlop said it wasn’t known if any thefts took place.
She added, the best way to protect yourself is to pick up your mail every day. And if you’re planning a holiday, get someone to pick up your mail daily or use Canada Post’s Hold Mail service. If you see suspicious types lurking around a mail box, call police.
If you see a vandalized mail box, call Canada Post at 1-800-267-1177.
“We’re working with Canada Post. They have had success with the new boxes.”
Police want people to continue to report any mail box thefts. That can help them track areas and possible suspects.
“Police throughout the Lower Mainland have received numerous reports of mail thefts in 2014. The new mail boxes that have been located in some of our neighbourhoods have certainly prevented thefts, but we all need to do more.”