Driver charged in highway collision that killed mom of 4

The B.C. Highway Patrol (BCHP) says the driver of a vehicle involved in a head-on collision that killed a mother of four near Trail, B.C., has been charged for their role in the crash.

The 56-year-old accused has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and two counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm, according to a written release from BCHP Cpl. Melissa Jongema.

The collision happened on Oct. 1, 2022 at around 5 p.m. The 34-year-old was driving southbound on Highway 22 when a Ford pickup travelling north drove into her lane and hit her vehicle head-on near Hanna Drive, according to RCMP.

RCMP said her four children, age eight to 14, were in the SUV and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Everyone involved in the crash was "from the local area," police said. Trail is about 600 kilometres east of Vancouver, with a population of about 7,900 people.

The victim's name has not been released.

Although RCMP were involved in the initial stages of the investigation, the case was later taken over by the BCHP due to the severity of the collision.

The first court appearance for the accused is Feb. 29, 2024 at the Rossland Courthouse.