Lake Cowichan RCMP spent a busy long weekend patrolling Cowichan Lake and the surrounding communities.
Officers responded to “lots of loud party complaints,” Cpl Warren Potter said, and to a boat collision that resulted in injuries. “It was a zoo all weekend.”
The RCMP is in the process of determining how two power boats collided on Cowichan Lake at approximately 4 p.m. Friday, August 2, Potter said.
The two vessels involved were a Sea-Doo and a 19-foot boat,” said Potter in a press release of the crash that occurred a short distance west of the public marina on Point Ideal Road.
“The operator of the Sea-Doo, a 20-year-old man from Surrey, sustained a head injury in the crash, requiring hospitalization. The operator of the 19-foot boat, a 35-year-old man from Sooke, was not injured in the crash.”
Potter wouldn’t release any other details as the crash is still under investigation by RCMP and South Island Integrated Marine Unit.
“To date, investigators have determined that alcohol was not involved on the part of the boat operator. Alcohol involvement on the part of the Sea Doo operator remains under investigation.”
Potter added the results of the RCMP’s investigation into the crash could be made public sometime this week.
The injured occupant’s condition was unknown at press time.
In other news, 60-year-old Richard Meeres, reported missing after he was last seen in Lake Cowichan Saturday, July 27, was found alive and well in Lake Cowichan on the night of Thursday, August 1, Potter said.
At 8:17 a.m. on July 29, the Lake Cowichan Fire Department reported that they attended and extinguished a fire that appears to have been left burning by people who were trespassing on a private development located 300 metres south of the east-west portion of Johel Road, according to a press release from the Lake Cowichan RCMP.
Police later attended and noted the fire was likely the result of people partying, as alcohol containers were observed in the area of the fire. Fortunately, the fire was discovered early enough, as the dry conditions and proximity of slash piles could have resulted in a large fire, which local resources would not have been able to extinguish.
The public is requested to report any suspicious activity in the development south of Johel Road to the Lake Cowichan RCMP Detachment at 250-749-6668.
Sgt. Wes Olsen, Lake Cowichan’s new commanding officer, assumes his post this week. See next week’s Gazette for a profile of your community’s newest lawman.
-With files from Lindsay Chung
and News Leader Pictorial