The BC Highway Patrol has revealed a 29-year-old man from Coombs on Vancouver Island now faces six criminal charges for an incident which killed one and left another seriously injured in March.
Police say that on March 2nd, at around 2:30 a.m. a woman driving on Highway 19A near Qualicum Beach lost control of her minivan and struck a power pole.
An 80-year-old man from Red Deer, Alberta stopped to help her, and while doing so, another vehicle collided with the minivan, hitting both the Good Samaritan and woman.
The man from Red Deer was killed as a result of the collision and the woman suffered “serious injuries,” according to the BC Highway Patrol.
Following a lengthy investigation, 29-year-old Jacob Pardiac of Coombs now faces the following charges:
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by alcohol
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by cocaine
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by alcohol
- Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by cocaine
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm
“BC Highway Patrol will do everything we can to investigate and charge people who choose to drive while impaired by alcohol and drugs,” said 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.”
Because this Good Samaritan was killed while simply attempting to help someone in need, the BC Highway Patrol has some ideas to consider, before someone unnecessarily puts themselves in harms way:
They say people should carefully consider whether they have reflective clothing, good footwear and the physical ability to help, and if conditions are treacherous for cars, they will be for humans too.
People looking to help someone in need are also warned to stay vigilant because emergencies such as this one can cause stress and tunnel vision, and the best way to help is to call 911, then get those on foot out of harms way as soon as possible.
“BC Highway Patrol applauds the sentiment of anyone trying to help after a collision, but we all need to understand that highways are extremely dangerous places when fast-moving cars and trucks come across unexpected pedestrians,” concluded McLaughlin
