Man arrested after 54-year-old hit by pickup, alcohol suspected: RCMP

A 48-year-old man has been arrested after a pickup truck struck a 54-year-old pedestrian in Prince George Thursday morning.

Police say they believe alcohol is a factor in the crash.

The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Emergency responders were called to the scene at Domano Boulevard and McGill Crescent just after 9 a.m. PT.

The location is a block away from a major intersection between Domano and Highway 16.

That intersection leads into a shopping complex that includes Canadian Tire.

Roads in the area were closed for several hours as police investigated.

The driver is being held in custody overnight.

He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.

RCMP have not released the name of the driver or the victim.

This is the second major road incident involving a pedestrian in Prince George this week.

On Monday, a person was killed after being hit at around 4:30 a.m. at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Victoria Street downtown.

Police say no criminality or impairment are being considered as factors in that earlier incident.

The Thursday crash happened in daylight.

It occurred near a busy shopping area.

Investigators spent hours at the scene gathering evidence.

They have not said what charges the driver may face.

Alcohol-related crashes are a persistent issue on Canadian roads.

According to Transport Canada, impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of fatal collisions in the country.

In British Columbia, the provincial government has implemented strict penalties for impaired driving.

These include immediate roadside license suspensions, vehicle impoundment, and mandatory ignition interlock programs for repeat offenders.

The Criminal Code of Canada makes it an offense to operate a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Penalties range from fines to life imprisonment if someone dies.

In cases involving serious injury, the maximum penalty is 14 years in prison.

Thursday's crash happened in Prince George, a city in north-central British Columbia.

It is the largest city in the region, with a population of about 75,000.

The city sits at the junction of Highways 16 and 97.

Highway 16 is a major east-west route across northern Canada.

Domano Boulevard is a main road leading to shopping and residential areas.

The intersection with McGill Crescent is near a residential neighborhood.

Witnesses who saw the crash or the aftermath are being asked to contact Prince George RCMP.

Police have not said whether charges have been approved yet.

Crown counsel will review the evidence before deciding on charges.

The driver remains in custody pending his court appearance.

RCMP continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

They are asking anyone with dashcam footage or information to come forward.

The victim's family has not been publicly identified.

Hospital officials have not released an update on the victim's condition since the initial report.

Critical condition means the person's vital signs are unstable and they may not be conscious.

The next 24 to 48 hours are often the most critical for trauma patients.

Prince George has seen several high-profile impaired driving cases in recent years.

In 2023, a driver who killed two pedestrians while impaired was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Advocacy groups have called for stricter enforcement and more public awareness campaigns.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada has a chapter in Prince George.

The organization provides support to victims and pushes for policy changes.

Thursday's crash has renewed calls for action on impaired driving.

Local residents have expressed frustration on social media.

Some have called for more police checkpoints in the area.

Others have asked for better pedestrian infrastructure at the intersection.

The crash occurred at a location that does not have a traffic light.

McGill Crescent is a residential street that meets Domano Boulevard at a T-junction.

There are crosswalks nearby but not at the exact point of the crash.

Police have not said whether the pedestrian was in a crosswalk at the time.

They have also not said how fast the pickup was traveling.

Those details may come out during the investigation or in court.

The driver's court appearance tomorrow will be his first opportunity to learn what charges he faces.

He may also have a bail hearing at that time.

If he is denied bail, he will remain in custody until his trial.

The case is likely to draw attention because of the serious injuries involved.

It also comes just days after the fatal crash on 1st Avenue.

That crash killed a pedestrian at around 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Police said at the time that impairment was not suspected in that incident.

No charges have been announced in that case either.

Two serious pedestrian crashes in one week have raised concerns about road safety in Prince George.

The city has seen a rise in pedestrian deaths in recent years.

According to ICBC data, an average of about 60 pedestrians are killed each year in British Columbia.

Prince George accounts for a small but notable share of those deaths.

Road safety experts say factors like speed, lighting, and driver behavior all play a role.

Alcohol impairment significantly increases the risk of a crash.