Close X
Friday, October 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

No charges in B.C. 2022 Christmas Eve bus crash that left 4 dead

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Dec, 2023 11:35 AM
  • No charges in B.C. 2022 Christmas Eve bus crash that left 4 dead

The British Columbia Prosecution Service says there will be no charges stemming from a bus crash on an icy highway in the province's Interior last Christmas Eve that killed four people. 

Service spokesman Dan McLaughlin says it reached the decision after the Crown counsel assessing the allegations concluded that the standard for charges had not been met.

The prosecution service guideline says in order for charges to be approved, there must be a "substantial likelihood of conviction" based on the strength of the evidence as well as the public interest being served in a prosecution.

The crash of the bus operated by Alberta-based Ebus happened on Highway 97C, the Okanagan Connector, east of Merritt, when the bus went off the road and flipped on its side. 

Police said extremely icy road conditions caused the rollover, with driving conditions described as "very poor with ice and snow on the road surface along with rain and hail falling."

Four of the 40-plus people on the bus died in the crash, which prompted the Interior Health authority to trigger a code orange response for a mass-casualty event.

MORE National ARTICLES

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in India

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in India
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says a priority for the G-20 and host India is strengthening global development banks and reaching a consensus on issues associated with rising debt levels in low and middle-income countries.  

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in India

Digital publication fights CRA finding that it does not produce 'original news'

Digital publication fights CRA finding that it does not produce 'original news'
In a court filing submitted last week, the publication rejects the agency's conclusion that it's not a qualified Canadian journalism organization — a designation that allows it to claim a journalism tax credit. The Canada Revenue Agency didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The federal government has yet to file its defence.

Digital publication fights CRA finding that it does not produce 'original news'

B.C. promises $3M to expand program that partners cops with health-care providers

B.C. promises $3M to expand program that partners cops with health-care providers
New teams are being funded for Abbotsford, Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Penticton, Vernon, Squamish, Prince Rupert and the Westshore on southern Vancouver Island.  Similar programs already exist in 10 B.C. communities including Kamloops, Victoria, Surrey and Vancouver.

B.C. promises $3M to expand program that partners cops with health-care providers

Marijuana grow-op busted in Abbotsford

Marijuana grow-op busted in Abbotsford
Investigators say they seized four thousand pot plant, kilos of suspected fentanyl and cocaine, as well as handguns, three sawed-off shotguns, a rifle, and a dozen other firearms that were "lawfully possessed."

Marijuana grow-op busted in Abbotsford

Report shows economic case for high immigration, but warns of housing trade-offs

Report shows economic case for high immigration, but warns of housing trade-offs
A Desjardins report released Monday analyzes how much population growth among working-age Canadians is necessary to maintain the old-age dependency ratio, which refers to the ratio between 15 to 64-year-olds and those aged 65 and older. 

Report shows economic case for high immigration, but warns of housing trade-offs

Tourist stabbed in Vancouver plans to continue tour of Canada

Tourist stabbed in Vancouver plans to continue tour of Canada
Twenty-eight-year-old Jamie Hallowes says he was on his way to withdraw cash downtown when someone approached him from behind and stabbed him twice. One wound required stitches, but Hallowes says the experience hasn't tainted his impression of Canada, and he plans to continue on to Alberta in the coming weeks. 

Tourist stabbed in Vancouver plans to continue tour of Canada