Interior Health has confirmed that it had to remove nearly 350 ruined medical samples from the scene of a crash in Westwold earlier this summer.
As first reported by Bob Kronbauer on Instagram, the truck was carrying a variety of test samples from different cities in the Interior when it crashed.
In a statement to NowMedia, IH confirmed that the truck was carrying 348 specimens and the third party transport company "failed" to report the collision.
That resulted in the samples being ruined.
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“As soon as we became aware of this issue and that the samples were not able to be recovered in time to process, IH took immediate action to contact physicians and patients to undertake re-collection,” the statement said.
“Since that time, all samples that were in the truck have been returned to Interior Health for appropriate discard or storage.”
Kronbauer reported the truck was carrying cancer tests, HIV and hepatitis tests, neonatal screenings and “other infectious tests.”
“Costs to the organization have not been tabulated at this time however it is important to note that we have reached out to impacted physicians and patients to expedite support for their re-collection due to this inconvenience,” IH said.
The RCMP confirmed the crash happened on July 16 around 8:30 pm in the 5100-block of Highway 97. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
The RCMP were unable to comment on whether or not the truck has been removed because it is the registered owner’s responsibility.
Kronbauer's video, which was originally posted on Oct. 9, showed the truck still stuck in the barn.
