Trial date set for woman facing eight charges in fatal Vernon car crash

VERNON – A woman charged with impaired driving causing death in connection with a tragic crash that left a local nurse dead and a second badly injured will stand trial early next year.

Lori Victoria Vance, born in 1977, is scheduled to start her trial Feb. 14, 2017 in Vernon Supreme Court. She faces eight charges including impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing death. The trial will be before a judge alone.

The crash happened just after 1 a.m. Oct. 23, 2014 and left Vernon Jubilee Hospital nurse Erin Rae Smith, 33, dead at the scene. Her friend and co-worker, Lindsey Hauck, 31, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

The women were on a coffee break when their car was T-boned in downtown Vernon. 

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