Three distracted drivers boarded at the scene of a fatal collision in Spallumcheen on Tuesday. North Okanagan RCMP say officers at the scene caught and charged three drivers who were using their cell phones while driving to the scene of the accident. The fatal collision between a dump truck and a pickup happened at about 11 a.m. near the intersection of highways 97 and 97A, north of Vernon. “While on scene, officers observed several drivers using their cell phones to record or take photos of the crash scene as they drove by,” says Vernon RCMP spokesperson Const. Chris Terlesky. Three drivers were stopped and issued $368 in violation tickets for using an electronic device while driving. One of those drivers was also ticketed for disobeying the directions of a peace officer. “It’s frustrating to have to deal with,” Terleski says. “It is not safe and there is absolutely no justification for it. “First responders are at these scenes trying to help people, and we need your help to do our jobs safely. We don’t need anyone to be seriously injured or killed because someone wants to take a picture. “It’s an emergency scene, not a photo shoot, so leave the phone alone. Drive safely, keep your hands on the wheel and pay attention to the road ahead.”
