Winds strong enough to topple trees led to several ferry cancellations and left residents of Salt Spring, Campbell River and other pockets of the Island without power on Tuesday morning.
sa国际传媒 Ferries cancelled the 10 a.m. sailing out of Tsawwassen and the noon sailing out of Swartz Bay, citing severe weather, although sailings resumed out of Tsawwassen at 1 p.m.
Sailings between Texada Island and Powell River, and Hornby and Denman islands and between Campbell River and Quadra Island were initially cancelled but resumed later in the morning after weather improved off the Island’s east coast.
A dramatic vehicle accident Monday evening cut power to more than 1,200 customers in Central Saanich until just after 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Shortly before 8 p.m. a vehicle heading north in the 7700-block of East Saanich Road hit a utility pole, shearing it in half, after initially striking two parked vehicles.
The top section of the pole remained suspended in the air, with live wires dangling, Central Saanich Deputy Police Chief Kevin Hackett said.
The driver, the sole occupant, was removed and the vehicle was subsequently destroyed by fire. The parked vehicles were unoccupied and sustained minor damage.
The driver was taken to hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries, Hackett said.
Crash investigators were at the scene Tuesday, along with sa国际传媒 Hydro crews called in to deal with the utility pole and wires.
About 2,600 Sooke customers lost power shortly before noon on Tuesday. About 600 customers were without power in Campbell River and about 300 were without power in the Ganges area of Salt Spring Island.
Gale warnings were in effect early Tuesday off the east and west coasts of Vancouver Island and strong wind warnings were issued for Juan de Fuca Strait and for Johnstone Strait.
Environment sa国际传媒 said the winds were expected to become light Tuesday night.
