An Alberta man has been sentenced for dangerous driving following a crash involving a tractor-trailer, a tow truck and a Mercedes on Highway 1 near Field.
BC Highway Patrol says it has released dash-camera footage from the tractor-trailer, tow truck and an RCMP cruiser to illustrate what can happen when drivers fail to slow down and move over when emergency lights are flashing.
RCMP say the incident occurred Dec. 8, 2023, just west of Field in Yoho National Park.
An officer was reportedly helping a tow truck operator who was impounding a Mercedes for excessive speeding.
The tow truck had its flashing amber lights activated.
Just after 9:30 p.m., 38-year-old Dalvir Singh Jhattu, who was travelling eastbound, struck the rear of the tow truck with his tractor-trailer.
All three vehicles were destroyed.
“Luckily the tow truck operator, the police officer, and the Mercedes driver were safely off to the side of the road, or they would certainly have been killed,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin.
“The tractor-trailer driver could easily have died as his truck rolled over and he became trapped.”
RCMP say the “Slow Down, Move Over” law requires drivers to reduce speed to below 70 km/h when passing emergency vehicles on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h, and to move into the farthest safe lane away from roadside responders.
Jhattu was found guilty under the dangerous driving provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada.
On April 8, 2026, RCMP say he was sentenced to a six-month conditional sentence, including 90 days of house arrest, and a 12-month Canada-wide driving ban.
He is now also prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol or drugs.
“Normal speed limits exist for ideal conditions,” McLaughlin said.
“When road workers or emergency responders are at the side of the road, you are legally required to slow down even more.”
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