Driver charged with killing 3 in a horrific bike accident

On behalf of: admin | Posted in: Bicycle Accidents on: Thursday, June 4, 2015

A 43-year-old driver has been charged in the deaths of two bicyclists and a passenger, who was riding in his car with him. Allegedly, the Lillooet man was driving his vehicle on a suspended license when he hit two bicyclists from Whistler. This is not the driver’s first run-in with the law either, as his license was suspended due to a previous drunk driving charge.

The driver has a long criminal record and he has been convicted of drink driving three times before. His most recent DUI conviction was in October 2014. Police suspect that alcohol played a role in this crash as well. Authorities have not formally charged the driver with drunk driving, but they are considering them in their investigations.

Among the victims was a 52-year-old man who was riding in the car at the time of the collision. Unfortunately, he was killed along with the bicyclists. In addition to the deceased passenger, three other passengers were in the vehicle, a 50-year-old man, a 53-year-old man and a 52- year old man. Along with the driver, these passengers were fortunate to survive the crash.

The driver was not without serious injuries and needed to be transported to the hospital by helicopter for treatment. As of last reports, family members indicated that the driver was still being held in the hospital, and he is currently able to walk without assistance.

Police reports indicate that the bicyclists were going down a steep and winding hill along Highway 99, when the driver crossed over the center line for unknown reasons and hit them head-first.

When a driver who hits and kills bicyclists and injures or kills his or her passengers in an Ontario car crash, authorities will strive to investigate the exact cause of the incident. If it is determined that the driver is at fault due to DUI in such an accident, evidence from the driver’s criminal proceedings may be used against him in civil actions for personal injury and wrongful death damages.

Source: cbcnews, "Driver in crash that killed Whistler cyclists had suspended licence for drunk driving," June 02, 2015

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