Calls for changes to Hwy. 5 after CN Rail worker killed in head-on collision
Juver Balmores was a husband and father of three young children who worked for CN Rail.
Early Tuesday morning, the 36-year-old died in a head-on crash between his CN Rail truck and a semi on Highway 5 between Kamloops and Clearwater, an accident that also claimed the life of a passenger in the semi.
The loss of Balmores has been devastating for his CN Rail colleagues in Kamloops.
“By all accounts, he was a very warm, friendly person. Very ambitious, a go-getter. His managers liked him,” said Cole Kramer, the president of United Steel Workers Local 2004, which represents CN Rail workers. “We like to think of ourselves as a family within the union, so you get to know these people day in, day out. And this has hit everybody really, really hard. It’s just a tragic loss.”
Fatalities on the 50-kilometre stretch of Highway 5 between Kamloops and Clearwater are shockingly common. Fifteen people died in crashes there in 2023.
“Our members, they work on the road, and that is the highway they have to travel fairly frequently throughout the year. By all accounts, they don’t enjoy it,” said Kramer.
Highway 5 passes through the town of Barriere, and Mayor Ward Stamer is saddened but not surprised by the latest double fatality.
“All the leaders in the North Thompson Valley are concerned once the traffic counts start coming up with summer vacation and those kinds of things, we are not sure where we will be at with that type of carnage,” Stamer said.
In March, the province announced some safety improvements are coming for Highway 5, including a commercial vehicle inspection pull out, and a speed data collection system. But local leaders want more.
“It needs to be wider, it has to be straighter. That costs money, and they haven’t spend it,” said Stamer.
On Balmores’ death, Kramer added: “It’s an unfortunate incident that will bring awareness to this stretch of highway hopefully, and hopefully there are some changes being made.”
Stamer worries without more investment from the province, 2024 will be another tragic year for Highway 5.
“It could be right around the corner something like this happens again,” Stamer said. “ I think we need some concrete steps that are going to be able to make this highway a whole lot safer, and we are not there yet.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city, marking the first franchise in Canada
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.