Problems on our roads nothing new
It’s heart-wrenching to hear of deaths on the Malahat and know that most could be prevented by a median.
But other stretches of road have experienced more than their share of accidents. Even after the new road was installed at Dougan’s Lake eight miles south of Duncan there was trouble with the camber and the sudden intense glare of the sun through the windshield as drivers negotiated the sweeping curves.
On a November 1976 morning, four separate accidents involving 12 vehicles caused major traffic delays. The accidents, reported police, were triggered by heavy fog and a burning field and caused more than $10,000 in damage.
No major injuries were reported in the series of mishaps — all rear-enders — that put at least one vehicle in the ditch, caused several cases of whiplash and damaged a Nanaimo ambulance on its way to Victoria with a patient.
One day later, a tragic accident took the lives of four Crofton teenagers just south of Chemainus when their car reportedly skidded into the path of a truck. Police said the marks indicated the young driver was trying to get back into his own lane when he overcorrected and went into a skid.
1976: hearts
Cowichan District Hospital board and medical staff mounted a campaign to raise money for a $250,000 coronary care unit. In addition to federal and provincial funds, the community must raise $70,000, said CDH board chairwoman Phyllis Whittome.
1976: contracts
Despite the offer of an eight per cent salary increase and a dental plan, talks between Cowichan teachers and the Cowichan school board had reached an impasse and would likely go to binding arbitration.
1976: torches
Royal Canadian Legion Cowichan Branch members were driven to the top of Mt. Prevost so they could see CeeVAC members place a lighted torch on the memorial cairn. The torch was carried in relays from the Legion building by the young athletes.
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