Attacked at Kitwanga

[explorenorth]

I saw a thread here a few months ago about vandalism and theft against Rvers in central BC, and I want to add to that. While heading north on Highway 37 through the little Native village of Kitwanga 10 days ago, a guy walking along the shoulder of the highway suddenly fired a handful of rocks and smashed both of my windshields - there are 24 breaks in the windshields, which will cost over $4,000 to replace. I called 911 and the RCMP responded but of course nothing was done - their report does make my deductible small, though. I'm sure that his red toque is well known in the community, and from his actions, I doubt that this was his first attack.

[garyhaupt]

No StewB..I wouldn't want it to it deter anyone, either. However, the RCMP line that they are doing all that they can is nonsense. If these were white women, there would have been much more done. But..that is just my thought and not being FN, I can speak them without fear of being ridiculed.


Gary Haupt

[StewB]

garyhaupt wrote:

joe b. wrote:
That area around Kitwanga has been a troubled place for some time. Young women have been disappearing, never to be see again. The last time I stopped at the restaurant at Kitwanga Junction, there were signs up inside warning young women not to hitch hike or be by themselves outside at night.

That's The Highway of Tears..the entire length of Highway #16. Of course, the powers here won't allow an investigation..the women just keep disappearing and or being murdered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_of_Tears_murders

I too live very near Kitwanga and have spent time there fishing and staying with a friend.

It can be a little rough around there. The local band council have taken a stand against white people launching their boats and fishing on that stretch of river. Like most places, there are those hard core against white people and those that think everyone should all get along. I expect the guy on the side of the road was a hard core with a chip on his shoulder.

As for highway of tears. There is and has been a long and exhaustive investigation that is ongoing by the RCMP. What the government is resisting is a National enquirery. This would supposedly get to the route of the problem and come up with recommendations to prevent more deaths. In reality it would just put a lot of people and lawyers to work for a year or more, cost millions of dollars, and solve nothing.

The question is how do you prevent someone from stepping out on the highway late at night and putting out their thumb to catch a ride to the next town? This is how several of the women disappeared. There are huge social and economic issues at play here. The answers are not easy or simple.

I would not let any of this stop anyone from coming up here. It is truly beautiful country.


Gary Haupt

[garyhaupt]

joe b. wrote:
That area around Kitwanga has been a troubled place for some time. Young women have been disappearing, never to be see again. The last time I stopped at the restaurant at Kitwanga Junction, there were signs up inside warning young women not to hitch hike or be by themselves outside at night.

That's The Highway of Tears..the entire length of Highway #16. Of course, the powers here won't allow an investigation..the women just keep disappearing and or being murdered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_of_Tears_murders




Gary Haupt

[Grey_Mountain]

For the record, I was nowhere near the place.

Grey Mountain

[joe_b_]

That area around Kitwanga has been a troubled place for some time. Young women have been disappearing, never to be see again. The last time I stopped at the restaurant at Kitwanga Junction, there were signs up inside warning young women not to hitch hike or be by themselves outside at night.

[garyhaupt]

I live in the area of Kitwanga and I am offended by the actions of the man in the red. I can't fix the problem but I sure as hell am sorry.


Gary Haupt

[BC_Explorer]

explorenorth wrote:
I saw a thread here a few months ago about vandalism and theft against Rvers in central BC, and I want to add to that. While heading north on Highway 37 through the little Native village of Kitwanga 10 days ago, a guy walking along the shoulder of the highway suddenly fired a handful of rocks and smashed both of my windshields - there are 24 breaks in the windshields, which will cost over $4,000 to replace.

That previous thread you mentioned was started here by another forum member in which he copied/pasted from another forum (presumably not rv.net.) of a stolen truck incident west of Williams Lake in the Chilcotin area of BC

I refrained from any input in that thread as the Chilcotin region is thousands of square miles in size. Like any area of comparable size, there is going to be some opportunistic crime regardless. I have spent over 20 years living and camping in the Chilcotin and Cariboo regions without incident and have never seen nor heard - first hand of any damage/theft to fellow RV'ers and travelers. Subsequent posts in that thread gave a false impression that the Chilcotin area is troubled with crime and should be avoided - which is simply not true.

As for the Kitwanga incident the OP speaks of. It is unfortunate and in all reality, can occur in any area of Canada or the USA whether travelling or close to home. Such an example is in my case where very recently, my truck had a $1600.00 vandalism claim and repair done. This vandalism occurred somewhere in a 15 mile radius of my home which has a relatively low crime rate and I live nowhere near Kitwanga nor the Chilcotin.

[Community Alumni]

I deleted several posts that were off topic. This includes discussions or flaming about legal entities.

Moderator

[colliehauler]

explorenorth wrote:
I saw a thread here a few months ago about vandalism and theft against Rvers in central BC, and I want to add to that. While heading north on Highway 37 through the little Native village of Kitwanga 10 days ago, a guy walking along the shoulder of the highway suddenly fired a handful of rocks and smashed both of my windshields - there are 24 breaks in the windshields, which will cost over $4,000 to replace. I called 911 and the RCMP responded but of course nothing was done - their report does make my deductible small, though. I'm sure that his red toque is well known in the community, and from his actions, I doubt that this was his first attack.

I wonder if anyone else had problems in the area. I remember reading about Ross River where something similar happened. Is this getting to be a common problem?

[mockturtle]

A man in WA was killed a few years ago when some teens threw a large rock onto his windshield from an overpass.

[sbstryker]

That stinks! We have a dash cam that I find is increasingly a necessary accessory. Here's the one we have: dash cam

[2gypsies1]

This also happened recently by someone shooting at cars along the interstate. The last I heard is they arrested someone but naturally he denied it. A coincidence that the shooting stopped when he was arrested. Lots of mean people out there. That's why we like boondocking. 🙂

[3oaks]

Bad enough but could have had worse happen. Be very thankful it was only property that was damaged.

An unfortunate Ohio woman was struck by a chunk of concrete thrown from an overpass in Pennsylvania not to long ago. She lost an eye and part of her skull. Still going through reconstructive surgery. The three people involved in the throwing incident were apprehended. Don't know if the trial is over yet. Their defense attorneys can't have a conscience in order to defend their clients actions.

[Community Alumni]

Had that happen on a main highway just outside Montreal a few years ago. Teens walking across an overpass tossed rocks down onto my truck. Missed the windshield but dented the truck roof. Really ticked me off; never caught them.