Not wearing a seatbelt contributed to this man’s death

VERNON – Not wearing a seatbelt was a factor in the death of a 44-year-old Armstrong man.

Braden Len Williams was ejected from his 2006 Chevrolet Impala on Highway 97 in Spallumcheen around 2 a.m. Sept. 28, 2013 and died of blunt force trauma. His vehicle’s OnStar reporting system notified the company the car had been involved in a collision. OnStar was unable to contact the driver and Falkland RCMP were called.

B.C. Coroner Margaret Janzen said the posted speed limit in the area was 90 kilometres per hour. An RCMP collision reconstructionist analyzed the vehicle’s skid marks and concluded its minimum speed when the brakes were applied was between 129-142 km/h.

The front left wheel had a compact temporary spare tire installed on it. According to the manual, it shouldn’t have been used in speeds over 105 km/h.

Toxicology analysis revealed Williams had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.22 per cent and had recently used cannabis.

Failure to wear a seatbelt, excessive speed and intoxication with alcohol and cannabis were all factors in the death, Janzen said.

She classified the death as accidental and made no recommendations.

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