by Andru McCracken
If you had information that could lead to an arrest in an assault that left a man close to death, would you share it?
Eight and a half years after a senseless beating, local people with information about a violent unprovoked assault on the road side are staying silent, according to a police source.
Spokesperson for the RCMP E division, Madonna Saunderson, confirmed that no charges were ever filed in the troubling incident.
On September 24, 2010 Alex Fraser was on his way back from Edmonton to his home in Vernon, BC when he was flagged down by two men standing next to a pick up truck.
Fraser assumed they were in distress.
“One fellow stood out from the lights and was waving his arms,” recalled Fraser. “So I figured, OK, they’ve got problems; they need help.”
When Fraser got out to offer assistance he heard a man’s voice shout, “You truckers are all alike.”
That’s when he was struck from behind.
According to a report in the Kamloops Daily News when Fraser regained consciousness the attackers were gone and he was covered in blood, dazed and too weak to stand.
Fraser crawled to the steps of his truck and fell unconscious again.
He woke again, long enough to get into the sleeper compartment where he blacked out for a third time.
He awoke near daybreak the following day.
“I didn’t know where I was,” he said. “The truck was still running. I figured ‘I can’t stay here.’ I couldn’t see out of my right eye – could hardly see anything at all – but I managed to drive 34 kilometres into Blue River.”
When he arrived at the Husky station he opened the door of his cab and fell to the ground. That’s when bystanders rushed to his aid and called 911.
The incident made the news nationwide and the British Columbia Trucking Association raised a $10,000 reward for information about the attack.
The trucking association’s president and CEO, Paul Landry said the incident was unusual.
“I have never, in the 16 years I’ve been with BCTA, heard of anything like this,” said Landry. “We want to help bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“Truck drivers are known for helping others on the road. I’d hate to be in a world where they can no longer choose to be Good Samaritans.”
There is no statute of limitations in Canada on serious crimes. If you have information about the assault, consider calling local police at 250-566-4466 or BC Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
