A very creative message from Merritt RCMP about why to be precautious while driving on area highways at this time of year.

A news release from detachment spokesperson Sgt. Josh Roda says “no zoomy zoom on the slicky slick or you’ll go boom boom.”

Roda wrote a poem to the tune of T’was the Night Before Christmas.

“T’was the end of October in Merritt,” Roda began. “And all around, the snow was falling onto the high ground. Vehicles were speeding on highways without care, hoping to make their destinations as quick as a hare.

“From the mountain peaks there arose such a clatter, as vehicles crashed and flipped due to the white matter. Merritt RCMP and partners rushed to the scenes, placing themselves in danger with a small hope to glean.

“Please slow down this winter season so we all can be safe, if you see flashing lights, please use your brakes!”

The creative messaging comes after Roda says there have already been “numerous crashes” on the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 97C, and he says an officer and another first responder were almost hit by a passing vehicle at one of those crash scenes.

The message also comes after a fiery crash on the Coquihalla south of Merritt on Friday, at Larson Hill, which involved five vehicles and saw six people be transported to hospital. Two of the patients were air-lifted to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops in critical condition.

After that crash, Roda pleaded for drivers to slow down and drive to conditions, and for vehicles to be equipped with winter tires on mountain highways and chains for larger vehicles.