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Charges recommended for RCMP involved in fatal crash

Cruiser wasn't running lights or sirens before Agassiz collision
24041agassizcruisercrashFILE
Charges are being recommended by the Abbotsford Police Department

Charges are being recommended for the Chilliwack RCMP member who was involved in a fatal crash in Agassiz last July.

The incident was being investigated by the Abbotsford Police Department, who released a statement on Wednesday with their conclusion.

"After a thorough examination of the evidence by Major Crime Unit detectives and Collision Reconstructionists, the Abbotsford Police Department has forwarded a report to Crown Counsel recommending a Motor Vehicle Act charge of Driving without Due Care and Attention," it reads. Crown Counsel will now decide how to proceed.

The fatal collision took place the evening of July 12, on the Lougheed Highway near Bodnar Road in Agassiz. An RCMP patrol vehicle was being driven by an officer responding to a  dispatched call. The emergency equipment — lights and sirens — was not running prior to the impact. The RCMP vehicle crossed entirely into the oncoming lane and struck a Ford Mustang that had two occupants, Steven Genberg and Jonathan Dauphney.

Genberg, 20 year old man from Mission, died a few days later in hospital.

The police vehicle was traveling at about 99 km/hr at the time of impact, and the Mustang was traveling eastbound between 60 to 74 km/hr. The area of the collision is a 80 km/ hr zone.

news@ahobserver.com