Inattentive driver hits fire hydrant
A single-vehicle accident saw Central Saanich police called to the 6400 block of Foxglove Terr. on Aug. 27 at around 8:30 a.m.
A woman who was driving her car along Bellavista Road reached down to grab something from the floor of her vehicle while she made the turn onto Foxglove Terrace.
As she was reaching down, she lost control of the vehicle and hit a fire hydrant. The vehicle was significantly damaged and had to be towed away.
The woman was charged with driving without due care and attention.
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RCMP warn of door-to-door ‘furnace man’
Sidney North Saanich RCMP are warning residents on the Saanich Peninsula to be aware of a man going door-to-door asking to inspect furnaces and hot water tanks.
The man identifies himself as the ‘gas man’ or the ‘furnace man’ and appears to be targeting seniors on the Peninsula.
In some cases, the man has replaced hot water tanks and is paid for the job, typically by blank cheque.
“What we’re seeing is people paying him with cheques which have the ‘payable to’ section blank because he’s telling them he is going to use his business stamp on it,” said Cpl. Erin Fraser of the Sidney North Saanich RCMP. The problem is the man doesn’t even have a business registered in his name, she said.
“The Better Business Bureau has had complaints about him and we’ve had a total of six complaints about him on the Peninsula,” Fraser said.
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School zones back in effect next week
With back to school coming up, Central Saanich police are taking an extra step to remind drivers to obey school zones in the area. The police are teaming up with Mainroad Group to erect lighted signage in Central Saanich school zones to remind drivers that 30 km/h is now mandatory in front of all schools.
“The boards will be up during the first week of school just to remind drivers to be cautious again in school zones after the summer break,” said Cpl. Pat Bryant of the Central Saanich police.
Drivers can expect to see signage in front of Keating and Brentwood elementary schools, Bayside middle school and Stelly’s secondary.
Schools in the Saanich School District are back in session Sept. 4.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com