Authorities baftl RICHMOND RCMP have no new leads in the disap- pearance of West Van- couver firefighter Rex Neff, who hu: been missing since june 14, By SURJ RATTAN | H News Reporter The 45-year-old Neff, a Rich- mond resident, finished his last shift June 13 at 8 a.m. He had breakfast with a friend and in the WEST VAN FIREFIGHTER afternoon he visited his 6%-vear- old mother in Huntingdon, near the Sumas U.S. border crossing. Neff had indicated that he was going to drive to Kelowna to par- ticipate in a fire department slow-pitch league baseball tour- Nament. But the event was cancelled. Neff was last seen in the area of the Huntingdon-Sumas border crossing. But a check at the border showed that Neff had not crossed into the U.S. in his grey VW Rabbit (licence number PPT 839). Posters identifying Neff have been distributed to every fire hall in the province. Washington State autherittes have also been alerted. West Vancouver Fire Depart- ment personnel have also engaged in the search for Nefi, Neff's wife Karen said her husband had been under a lot o% stress lately but ad- ded that it was out of character 2 - Wednesdays. July 21, 1990 - North Shore News ed over missing man DISAPPEARED JUNE 14 for him to simp!y disappear Meanwhile, the search for Van- couver resident Selina Sung, who disappeared in the Whistler area on June 28, has now been shifted to the Lower Mainland. Whistler RCMP Set. Ken Porter said the police believe Sung is not in the Whistler area anymore and that his department does not have the manpower to continue the search. The case has been turned over NEWS photo Paut McGrath ACCIDENT S\’ENE: This pick-up truck smashed into a building after the driver lost control while driving westbound on West Esplanade. The truck climbed .he sidewalk and hit a tree before landing at the stairs of a building at 267 West Esplanade. North Vancouver RCMP suspect the 27-year-old driv er suffered a seizure when the accident happened. He was taken to Lions Gate Hospital. Taylor Way turn lanes get LEFT-HAND turn signals will not be installed on two busy Taylor Way intersec- tions in West Vancouver, despite area resider:ts’ con- cerns that a serious accident is just waiting to happen at the two locations. By SURJ RATTAN News Reporter The provincial highways ministry recently installed left-turn lanes at the intersections of Taylor Way and Inglewood Avenue and Taylor Way and Keith Road, and while both intersections have traf- fic lights, they have no left-hand turn signals. Red Williams, who lives east of the Taylor Way and Inglewood intersection, said the highways ministry tas ignored repeated re- quests from area residents to in- stall left-hand turn signals at the intersections. He added that it is difficult for vehicles to turn left off Taylor Way at Inglewood and Keith because north and southbound Taylor Way traffic does not slow down at either of the locations. “There’'ve been numerous acci- dents on Taylor Way. [It’s hair- raising,” said Wiliams. ‘‘People don’t stop to let you turn. They run orange lights and red lights.”’ He added that before the left- turn lanes were installed, vehicles turning left could force north and southbound traffic to slow down by backing up traffic while waiting to turn left. But now with the installation of the left-turn lanes, he said, north a “§ ght NEWS Photo Paul McGrath WHILE A left hand turn lane has been installed at the busy intersection of Taylor Way and Keith Road in West Vancouver, zrea residents complain that what is needed is an advanced iurn signat, a request rejected by the transportation 22d highways ministry. and southbound Taylor Way traf- fic will no longer be forced to slow down to allow vehicles to make feft turns. “We were assured by (West Vancouver District) some time ago that something would be done. We now find out they have put in left-turn lanes but no turn signals,*’ said Williams. ‘Now they have two lanes wide open and that’s going to increase the speed."” Williams also said a ministry spokesman told him that vehicles can still turn left on a green light. ‘*He said we could still turn left on a green light. [ said ‘I'd like to see you try and make a left turn on a green fight’ ,"’ said Williams. “The highways department said we never complained (about Ieft- turn signals). Well they must have our letters on file some place and if they don’t then they’re damn liars.” But Transportation and High- ways ministry regional director Dave Cunliffe said current traffic patterns show that there is not enough demand vet to warrant in- stalling left-turn signals at the two Taylor Way intersections. “I know they (intersections) have been a source of concern,”’ he said. ‘‘We do 2 physical count of vehicles at peak times on a regular basis to see when people are moving and we don’t think there will be much of 2 demand for advanced turn signats."' He added that only when traffic in the left-turn lanes starts to back up into the through lanes on Taylor Way will the ministry iu- stall left-turn signals. “Our count showed that even when through traffic on Taylor Way is at a peak cycle, you can still move three or four cars (left) ona green light,’* added Cunliffe. West Vancouver Police Sgt. Gunter Wahl said his department is glad the left-turn lanes were in- stalled because both intersections have been ‘ta major coneern.”” “There were a fair amount of accidents there. We are happy that the left-turn lanes were installed.” said Wahl. The highways ministry has scheduled an official July 16 opening of the Taylor Way left- turn lanes. Vancouver-Howe Sound MLA John Reynelds and West Vancouver Mayor Don Lanskail are scheduled to attend the event. West to the RCMP general-investigation section based in Vancouver. Sung was last seen at about 9 p.m. in Whistler on June 28. Her family and friends have searched the Whistler and Squamish areas but have so far failed to find any trace of her. The family plans to. search Vancouver and area streets for Sung’s navy-blue Jeep Cherokee Laredo (licence number TLG 789). Runaway truck case still open From page 1 the hill, which has a 12 per cent grade. The vehicle sped past the ticket booths and turned into Lane 3 at the ferry terminal's un- derground parking fot before crashing into the Ford van. The van was the sole vehicle in that lane. On impact it was partially covered with a load of hot asphalt. “Both the driver and his part- iter were interviewed at length and released Monday night. No charges have been laid, but the case is still open,’* said Wahl. The Horseshoe Bay ferry termi- nal will undergo a $30-million ex- pansion program and B.C. Ferry Corp. spokesman Erin Caldwell said the idea of installing a runaway truck lane has been discussed but no decision has been made. “That’s something that has been talked about. But the ques- tion is where do you put that lane,”’ said Caldwell. “He (Ubhi) wasn’t in the side by the rock cliff and if a runaway lane is put on that side someone (runaway) will not necessarily be in that runaway lane.’’ She added that counselling is being provided to B.C. Ferry Corp. employees who witnessed the carnage and assisted in the rescue, “We have been getting help for our employees who were there. It’s a tragic thing for our people and we’re dealing with that,’” said Caldwell. West Vancouver Fire Depart- ment Chief Colin Evans called the accident ‘‘oFviously a very serious situation’’ and added that itis department, police, ambulance at- tendants, ferry personnel and bystanders all worked together in the rescue operation. “We have had some bad acci- dents in the past but that was one of the worst scenes for our per- sonnel,"’ said Evans. ‘‘It was very disturbing.” The B.C. Coroner's Office, which is investigating the accident along with the West Vancouver Police Department, the ministry of transportation and highways and the solicitor generals ministry, will launch an inquest. Budget Beaters EcoUpdate Second Class Registration Number 3885