WILKIE – One Wilkie family who owned and operated two businesses, is trying to pick up the pieces of their lives following a vehicle collision to their business building.
In the early morning of Nov. 23, Greggory and Natasha Brooks were contacted by Wilkie Fire Department, informing them a Dodge half-ton truck had created an eight-foot by 10-foot hole in the side of the building that housed two of their businesses.
Greggory Brooks contacted the local RCMP detachment and was told someone would be in contact with him right away, only to receive a voicemail stating the address and that ‘some’ damage was caused to the building. He has yet been able to speak to investigators.
“We thought we had the right to the information with being the victim so we will have to research and/or find an attorney,” said Brooks.
The businesses, Brooks Ohana Landscaping and Brooks Ohana Mind, are located next to the Delta Co-op Food Store in Wilkie. Brooks said the store refused to show him and his wife their surveillance, stating they had already given the footage to the RCMP.
While the couple is still cleaning and sorting through the rubble, they estimate repairs to the building will be in the $20-25,000 range, while replacement product for Mind, Body and Soul could be as high as $10,000.
“The building was oil soaked from the truck and created large holes in the floor, leaving them dangerous and inoperative. The windows on the opposite side of the building were also destroyed and we have found plumbing issues and electrical shorts. If we had not been notified, the damage could have been much more with the snowstorm we had that day as well,” said Brooks.
At the time of the collision, Mind, Body and Soul was in the process of moving into the location, therefore held no insurance for the product.
“We were told to get everything set up, take pictures and then it could be evaluated for insurance. We will be requesting restitution,” added the business owner.
Brooks was able to speak with an RCMP representative, who was not handling the investigation, and did learn the driver of the truck had been charged, but not what charges had been laid.
“Police procedure with victims need to be addressed, especially in an environment where further damage could have been caused because of the lack of communication. I had to pry to get next step information which includes a victim report and a restitution form,” he added.
A 23-year-old male from Wilkie was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, careless use of a firearm and mischief stemming from the collision. This information came in from RCMP shortly after Brooks had contacted Â鶹ÊÓƵ.ca regarding the situation.
