The Whistler RCMP are recommending charges of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm for two drivers who allegedly instigated an April 14 crash on Highway 99 that left three dead, and 10 injured.
Although they couldn’t give specifics, the RCMP believe speed was a factor.
The accident occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m. in the area of Powerline Hill, approximately 10 kilometres south of Whistler Village. A red Camaro travelling southbound apparently lost control heading into a curve, skidding twice and crossing over the centre line into oncoming traffic. It collided head-on with a northbound minivan carrying six Squamish residents – all Whistler employees – killing one of the passengers, 46 year old Magdalena Robes.
Two occupants of the Camaro also died. Aliya Noor Padamashi, 16, of Vancouver died at the scene. Sandeep Braich, also of Vancouver, died later that afternoon at Vancouver General Hospital as a result of his injuries.
The driver of the Camaro was 16 at the time of the accident, hails from Richmond, and cannot be identified under the Young Offenders’ Act.
The driver of a second car, a 16-year-old girl from Vancouver, was also charged in the crash. Her Accura Integra sustained minor damage in the accident.
The RCMP won’t say whether the two southbound cars were racing or how fast they were going, but they believe it was well over the advisory limit of 50 kilometres an hour and over the posted limit of 80 km/h.
A total of five ambulances and two helicopters were called to the scene and the highway was closed for four hours for rescue crews, cleanup crews and the RCMP’s site investigation.
It will be up to Crown Counsel to decide whether to proceed with the charges as recommended.
