For the first time in the nearly two-decade history of the service in Prince George, Operation Red Nose has suffered an accident.
No one was injured Saturday night when a designated driver taking two clients home in a truck slid down an embankment near Chief Lake Road and Highway 97, according to ORN spokeswoman Andrea Johnson.
The roads were icy and snow-covered with light snow falling but all three were wearing seatbelts.
A passenger was taken to hospital by B.C. Ambulance as a precaution and later released while the other two people - the other client and the designated driver - were fine.
"This the first time an accident of this kind has occurred in our 19-year history after nearly 12,000 rides," Johnson said. "We are grateful that everyone is OK."
Organizers and the clients followed all necessary procedures afterwards, Johnson said, including talking to police and rescue crews and filing claims with ICBC. An incident report was also filed immediately to the ORN national office in Quebec City.
"We have special insurance for Red Nose, ICBC covers it," Johnson said.
Over the course of Friday and Saturday nights, ORN delivered 242 rides, taking both the driver and the driver's vehicle home after a night of celebrating.
Meanwhile, ORN is hoping for a last-minute rush of volunteers to help out on New Years Eve.
Enough people have stepped forward to make up 26 teams - nine to 14 short of what will be ideal. In other words, ORN would like to see another 45 people volunteer.
The deadline for doing so is this by the end of business hours today to give Prince George RCMP enough time to process the applications. Start by filling out the form online at www.ornpg.ca, then print it off and drop it off at the detachment at 455 Victoria St.
You must be at least 19 years-old, have a valid driver's license and pass a criminal record check.
Also over Friday and Saturday nights, Prince George RCMP pulled three motorists off the road for driving while impaired.
One was issued a three-day immediate roadside prohibition for alcohol and two were given 24-hour suspensions for drugs.
A three-day suspension is issued whenever a driver blows between .05 and .08 on a roadside screening device for the first time within five years. The penalty comes with a three-day impoundment of the vehicle and a $200 fine.
A 24-hour suspension can be issued if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person's ability to drive has been affected by drugs or alcohol and does not require use of a roadside screening device.
Drivers with three 24-hour prohibitions may be required to participate in the responsible driver program and the ignition interlock program, which are remedial programs for impaired drivers.
RCMP also issued 15 speeding tickets.
