For 15 years, Brent Burton and his family have enjoyed life on a serene farm in the Okanagan Valley, surrounded by pets and livestock. However, their peaceful existence has been disrupted by a series of alarming incidents involving vehicles crashing into their property. The first incident occurred in August 2022 when a Ford SUV lost control on Highway 97, careening off an embankment, smashing through their fence, and destroying a boat in storage. Burton initially dismissed it as a one-time occurrence. "A young fella passed out at the wheel ... he flew 120 feet [36 meters]," Burton recounted. "He walked away basically unscathed. He had a bit of a rash on his elbow, but he was pretty lucky to be alive."

Since that initial crash, the family has faced three more incidents, including two serious crashes within just 48 hours last week. In March 2023, another vehicle crashed in nearly the same spot, destroying a boat that had just been replaced by insurance. Authorities believe an elderly man suffered a heart attack while driving, leading to his vehicle landing near Burton's garage.

Last Tuesday, a Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) officer, in pursuit of a pickup truck, lost control and ended up in Burton's yard. "[The CVSE car] ended up going across the line of traffic and into our yard," Burton said. The officer was found injured and taken to the hospital, and the same boat was damaged again.

Remarkably, just two days later, a driver of a Honda Pilot lost control after light snowfall and landed dangerously close to an already damaged shed. "It's scary," Burton expressed. "You know, we hear the crashes and bangs, and we're like, 'Oh no, not again.' It's to the point right now where we don't feel safe in that part of our yard."

The B.C. Highway Patrol reported that there is no evidence of impairment in any of the crashes. While speed may have played a role, investigations are ongoing. The crash site is located just south of Kaleden, B.C., where the speed limit decreases from 100 km/h to 80 km/h at a curve in the road.

Burton has raised concerns about the highway's design, which lacks guardrails or adequate warnings. He believes that measures must be taken to prevent vehicles from leaving the highway. "There's got to be some sort of way of stopping stuff coming off the highway," he said. "I think at this point, something's got to be done."

Burton has contacted the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, local MLA Donegal Wilson, and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen director Subrina Monteith for assistance. However, he was informed that there is insufficient space between the embankment and the curb to install a barrier. Monteith noted that the regional district lacks funding and jurisdiction over road safety issues.

"Unfortunately, [the] regional district has no funding of roads. We've got no jurisdiction over roads," Monteith stated. She emphasized that local officials are advocating for a solution. "I think we're in the right direction. The fact that the Ministry of Transportation is well aware, the local MLA Donegal Wilson is very aware," she added.

Following inquiries from media, the Transportation Ministry acknowledged the recent incidents and stated they are reviewing the intersection for potential safety improvements. In the meantime, reflective markers will be installed to enhance visibility and safety for road users.

For Burton, while he sees this as a step forward, he remains skeptical about the effectiveness of reflective markers alone. "Visibility isn't an issue ... at least it's something," he said. "I don't think it would have changed the outcome of any of the four vehicles that entered the yard. Hopefully, they find it unsafe, and that something should be done."