Six charges approved against an accused impaired driver after the death of a Good Samaritan

BC Highway Patrol

2024-12-27 08:00 PST

File # 7001 2024-388

A BC Highway Patrol investigation has led to six impaired driving charges after a Good Samaritan was killed and a woman seriously hurt on Vancouver Island.

On March 2, 2024, around 2:30 a.m., a woman driving a minivan lost control and hit a power pole on Highway #19A near Qualicum Beach, BC. An 80-year-old man who was in a different vehicle stopped to help. Both the Good Samaritan and the minivan driver were outside of their vehicles when another vehicle collided with the minivan and both pedestrians were struck.

The man trying to help, an 80-year-old man from Red Deer, Alberta, was killed. The minivan driver, a 36-year-old woman from Bowser, BC, was seriously injured.

A BC Highway Patrol investigation was forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service, and 29-year-old Jacob Aaron Pardiac of Coombs, BC, has now been charged with the following:

1. Operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by alcohol, section 320.14(3) of the Criminal Code;
2. Operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by cocaine, section 320.14(3) of the Criminal Code;
3. Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, 320.13(3) of the Criminal Code;
4. Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by alcohol, section 320.14(2) of the Criminal Code;
5. Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by cocaine, 320.14(2) of the Criminal Code;
6. Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, 320.13(2) of the Criminal Code.

BC Highway Patrol will do everything we can to investigate and charge people who choose to drive while impaired by alcohol and drugs, says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. We have seen repeated incidents this year where people trying to help after a collision end up hurt or killed, and it’s terribly sad.

BC Highway Patrol is asking everyone to exercise extreme caution when trying to help after a collision:

• Carefully consider whether you have reflective clothing, good footwear, and the physical ability to help;
• If conditions are treacherous for cars, they are treacherous for pedestrians;
• Emergencies can cause stress and tunnel vision; keep alert at all times;
• Can you can call 911 and get the professionals to help instead?
• If you’re involved in a minor crash, you may be safer in your vehicle, with your seatbelt on, while waiting for help;
• Get yourself and anyone else on foot off the road and away from traffic as quickly as possible.

BC Highway Patrol applauds the sentiment of anyone trying to help after a collision, says Corporal McLaughlin, but we all need to understand that highways are extremely dangerous places when fast-moving cars and trucks come across unexpected pedestrians.
 

Released by:

Email: bchp_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/highway-patrol

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