Alberta driver blames elk for speeding at 160 km/h in B.C.
A driver from Alberta was going excessively fast in B.C., and he blamed his speeding on a majestic creature native to the province.
According to a news release from B.C. RCMP, the driver, who was by Moyie, a small B.C. community which only had a population of 266 in 2021, was travelling at speeds of 160 km/h.
The speeding incident occurred on Dec. 30, on Highway 3/95, near Moyie. A BC Highway Patrol officer stopped a Mercedes-Benz driver who was clocked at 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
When officers asked him if he had a reason for travelling so fast, he said he was trying to avoid an elk.
BC Highway Patrol shared a little factoid that elk can travel at speeds up to 70 km/h, not quite as fast as the driver’s Mercedes.
“So they are just as athletic as they are majestic, but if you feel the need to get away, you still have plenty of room to spare in a 100 km/h zone,” said Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol in the news release.
“Instead of coming up with questionable excuses, consider leaving slightly earlier, slowing to the speed limit, and saving yourself the cost and hassle of losing your vehicle to an impound,” McLaughlin added.
For trying to outrun an elk and thereby speeding, the driver was given a violation ticket and suffered monetary losses, including:
- $483 for excessive speed
- The cost of a tow-truck and a seven-day vehicle impound
- High-risk premiums and increased insurance costs
“Luckily, no elk were harmed during this incident,” Corporal McLaughlin added.
“If you ever hit such a large creature while driving 160, it will end badly for you and very badly for the elk.”