Coroner releases findings into fatal Easter crash near Vernon

VERNON – A driver who crossed into the wrong lane on Highway 97 two years ago made no attempt to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle, a coroner’s report into the deaths of three people has found.

In her report, Margaret Janzen of the B.C. Coroners Service describes the 2013 Easter Sunday collision that killed Eric David Robertson, 19 of Armstrong, Allan Arthur Allport, 70 of Salmon Arm, and his wife Fay Dorothy Allport, 67.

Arthur Allport was at the wheel of a 2001 Volvo station wagon with his wife as a passenger, when a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck crossed the centre line and struck their car head-on about 11 km south of Vernon on Highway 97. Arthur Allport and the passenger of the pickup truck (Robertson) died at the scene. Fay Allport was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital but succumbed to her injuries the next day.

Police charged the 22-year-old driver of the Chevrolet, Brandon McGregor of Spallumcheen, with dangerous driving causing death a year after the accident. McGregor, who suffered no serious injuries in the crash, next appears in Vernon court Mar. 19 and his case is scheduled for a preliminary inquiry beginning Mar. 30.

Evidence at the scene indicated Arthur Allport pulled over to the shoulder and slowed down to between 44-55 km/h in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid colliding with the Chevrolet. There was no indication the driver of the Chevrolet—estimated to be travelling between 78-94 km/h—took any evasive action to avoid the crash, Janzen said.

Airbags deployed in both vehicles, and all three victims were wearing seat belts. Janzen concluded they all died of blunt force trauma and classified their deaths as accidental. She made no recommendations.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.