New Information on Fatal Easter Crash Near Vernon Comes to Light

A driver made no attempt to avoid a collision after crossing into on-coming traffic, while another driver tried to veer out of the way before being struck.

New information regarding the tragic Easter Sunday car accident near Vernon has come to light.

On March 31st, 2013 around 1:40 p.m. in the afternoon, B.C. ambulance was called to the scene of a major car accident on Highway 97 just south of Vernon.

When emergency personnel got to the scene, they found 19-year-old Eric Robertson from Armstrong deceased in the passenger seat of a 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck. He was killed after the truck crossed the centre line and struck a 2001 Volvo Station Wagon.

Photo credit: RCMP handout.

The driver, 70- year-old Allan Arthur from Salmon Arm, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, 67 Fay Dorothy also from Salmon Arm, died later in hospital.

The driver of the truck, 21-year-old Brandon McGregor of Spallumcheen, was taken to hospital in stable condition. He was later released from hospital.

After considering evidence, B.C. Coroners reporter Margaret Janzen determined that the driver of the truck, after moving into the on-coming lane, made no attempt to slow down or avoid the collision with the on-coming Volvo.

The driver of the Volvo pulled over the shoulder of the highway and slowed down, however; his efforts to avoid the collision were unsuccessful.

After the two vehicles struck one another, the truck flipped over the Volvo and landed upside down.

The Volvo remained upright and both airbags were deployed. Both occupants of the Volvo were wearing their seatbelts.

According to Janzen’s report, the truck was travelling anywhere between 78 to 94 kilometres per hour and the Volvo was driving between 44 to 55 kilometres per hour.

Finding this incident to be an accident, the B.C. Coroners Service is not making any recommendations to further this investigation.

In April of 2014, McGregor was charged with Dangerous Driving Causing Death.