Charges have been approved against a Coombs man over the death of a senior who stopped beside the highway to help a woman in distress this spring.
On March 2, at around 2:30 am, a 36-year-old woman from Bowser driving a minivan along Highway 19A lost control and hit a power pole near Qualicum Beach. An 80-year-old man driving by stopped to help, but while he and the female driver were standing on the side of the road, they were hit by a third vehicle, which also hit the minivan.
The man was killed, and the minivan driver was seriously injured.
After a BC Highway Patrol investigation, 29-year-old Jacob Aaron Pardiac is facing multiple charges, including operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by alcohol and cocaine.
He is charged with:
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by alcohol, section 320.14(3) of the Criminal Code
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by cocaine, section 320.14(3) of the Criminal Code
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, 320.13(3) of the Criminal Code
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by alcohol, section 320.14(2) of the Criminal Code
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by cocaine, 320.14(2) of the Criminal Code
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, 320.13(2) of the Criminal Code
“BC Highway Patrol will do everything we can to investigate and charge people who choose to drive while impaired by alcohol and drugs,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “We have seen repeated incidents this year where people trying to help after a collision end up hurt or killed, and it’s terribly sad.”
BC Highway Patrol is asking everyone to exercise extreme caution when trying to help after a collision:
- Carefully consider whether you have reflective clothing, good footwear, and the physical ability to help
- If conditions are treacherous for cars, they are treacherous for pedestrians
- Emergencies can cause stress and tunnel vision; keep alert at all times
- Can you can call 911 and get the professionals to help instead?
- If you’re involved in a minor crash, you may be safer in your vehicle, with your seatbelt on, while waiting for help
- Get yourself and anyone else on foot off the road and away from traffic as quickly as possible.
BC Highway Patrol applauds the sentiment of anyone trying to help after a collision, says Corporal McLaughlin, but we all need to understand that highways are extremely dangerous places when fast-moving cars and trucks come across unexpected pedestrians.
