IIV Image Viewer: pgc:2012-11-06

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THE
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GEORGE
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012
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DINING 19
Driver dead near Fraser Lake
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
One person has died in a four-vehicle collision on Highway 16 at Beaumont provincial park near Fraser Lake, RCMP said Monday.
The collision involved two commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles, said Staff Sgt. Pat McTiernan, unit commander of the RCMP’s Prince George regional traffic services.
Police and ambulance personnel were called to the scene, about 134 km west of Prince George, at 9:41 a.m.
“The collision occurred when the driver of a westbound sports utility vehicle (SUV) lost control of the vehicle in a gentle curve and slight grade,” McTiernan said in a statement.
“The SUV crossed the centre line, into the path of an eastbound passenger car with one occupant.
“After colliding with the passenger car, the SUV was then struck by an commercial truck/trailer unit, which was following the passenger car.
“The eastbound commercial truck and trailer was then struck from behind by an eastbound commercial crane unit.
“The driver of the passenger car has succumbed to the injuries he sustained.”
The SUV’s two occupants were
transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Each of the commercial vehicles held only their drivers. Both were uninjured.
“Weather and road conditions are not believed to be a factor in the collision, although the investigators are looking into the possibility that conditions may have been different in the vicinity of the collision scene,” McTiernan said.
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CITIZEN PHOTO BY DAVID MAH
TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE — Sandra Gairns helps Levi Martin, 9, size some skis at the annual Prince George Alpine Ski Club Ski Swap held at NR Sport and Ski. Shoppers gathered early for deals on equipment.
PIPELINE
HEARINGS
Animals at issue before panel
Peter JAMES Citizen staff pjames@pgcitizen.ca
The proposed Northern Gateway pipeline will cross caribou habitat to the northeast of Prince George, but what impact it will have on the species was a matter of debate Monday at National Energy Board hearings.
Law professor Chris Tollefson, representing Nature Canada and B.C. Nature, spent most of the day debating the fate of the animal featured on the Canadian quarter with witnesses from the company.
Tollefson was the first intervener to question the third and final Northern Gateway witness panel to appear in Prince George during the Joint Review Panel hearings into the environmental assessment for the $6.5 billion oilsands to Kitmat pipeline. This group of witnesses is dealing with the environmental and socio-economic assessment of the project.
Tollefson contended the loss of habitat associated with the construction and operation of the pipeline is the prime factor to consider and asked for a larger buffer area to be taken into account when assessing the impact on caribou.
“Our view is that habitat is the overarching concept so predation, movement, reproduction, foraging all of those things are elements of habitat so we would like to see an integrated approach offered,” Tollefson said in an interview after he wrapped up his questioning.
— see THIS, page 3
COURT
Smash-and-grab thief pleads guilty
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
Dillon Benjamin Ertmoed, 22, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts from the Sept. 19 robbery of a Pine Centre Mall jewelry store.
During a brief appearance in Prince George provincial court, Ertmoed entered the guilty pleas on counts of robbery and disguising his face with an intent to commit an offence.
Ertmoed will be sentenced once a pre-sentence report is completed.
That process is expected to take about 10
weeks, the court was told.
Ertmoed and Jarrod Constant Pruden-Col-lins, 21, were arrested soon after two masked men were seen entering Michael Hill Jewellers just before 11 a.m., smashing some display cases and making off with a number of items.
Pruden-Collins’ next appearance is
scheduled for Nov. 21 for a bail hearing.
In addition to robbery and disguising with intent, both had been charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief $5,000 or under.
Pruden-Collins was also charged with possessing a prohibited weapon without a licence
and knowingly possessing a prohibited weapon without a licence.
Two cans of bear spray and a mallet were seized during the arrests, Prince George RCMP have said. Pruden-Collins also faces charges from the Sept. 14 armed robberies of two Subway restaurants in Prince George as does Raymond Douglas Pennicott, 21.
And Pennicott continues to face charges from an alleged Sept. 10 assault of a taxi driver, in which police said bear spray was used and from a Sept. 17 armed robbery of a gas station at Fifth and Tabor. Pennicott is also scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 21 for a bail hearing.
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