Skip to content

Family grateful for help of Shuswap Good Samaritan

Driver avoids collision only to have car slide down 30-foot embankment
10109662_web1_180110-SAA-Butler-accident-location
The family of Adrian Butler is grateful for the help he received following a motor-vehicle accident at the intersection of Des Fosses road and Highway 1 east of Sorrento. Google image

Joyce Butler is grateful to a Good Samaritan who came to her grandson’s aid following a motor-vehicle accident on Highway 1 near Sorrento.

After spending the holiday in Salmon Arm celebrating the marriage of their son Paul Butler to daughter-in-law Kaya, Joyce and her husband Wallace, accompanied by the newlyweds, had just left to drive home to Jasper on Wednesday, Dec. 27, when they received a telephone call. It was from their grandson, Adrian Butler, who had left Salmon Arm the same day for Victoria.

Adrian explained he’d been in a motor-vehicle accident but was uninjured. Adrian was being helped by a man who lived nearby and was looking after him.

Joyce said they turned their vehicle around and were at the accident scene within 15 minutes.

“He gave us pretty explicit instructions over the telephone of how to find him and, when we arrived, there were a couple of cars pulled off on the shoulder of the road with flashing lights, so we knew we were at the right spot. But we saw no sign of our grandson’s car or him,” said Joyce.

Adrian’s accident occurred west of Sorrento near Meek’s Point. A Chase RCMP report states the driver of a 2013 Kia Rio was attempting a left turn from Des Fosses Road into the westbound lane. The vehicle was unable to accelerate, however, due to icy roads.

A westbound Toyota Matrix, driven by Adrian, quickly approached the slow-moving Kia. Unable to stop in time, Adrian pulled onto the right-hand shoulder of the highway.

While Adrian was able to avoid a collision, the snow-covered shoulder gave way and the Toyota slid down a 30-foot embankment.

Police say the vehicle did not roll and the driver was able to get out uninjured. The driver of the Kia was issued a violation ticket.

“You cannot imagine how we felt when we got to the edge of the road and looked down the embankment; we couldn’t believe he was not injured,” said Joyce. “But he assured us he was OK and so did the gentleman with him.”

Following the Good Samaritan’s directions, Joyce and company made their way to the stranger’s house on Tate Place, where they found Adrian in good health, albeit shaken by the accident.

Joyce regrets not getting the man’s name, but says the family is “immensely grateful for his kindness to our grandson and to us.”

“The best Christmas gift was that our grandson was able to walk away from what could have been a very serious accident, and that he was supported by someone who came to his aid,” said Joyce. “I don’t know who he is but Sorrento should be very proud to lay claim to this Good Samaritan.”

The Butlers wound up staying the night in Kamloops. The next day Adrian flew to Victoria and the rest of the family carried on to Jasper.