Coroner wants Ministry of Transportation to review crash that killed a North Okanagan mother and daughter | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Coroner wants Ministry of Transportation to review crash that killed a North Okanagan mother and daughter

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ICY ROAD CONDITIONS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR

NORTH OKANAGAN - Icy road conditions were a factor in a fatal car crash two years ago, and the B.C. Coroners Service is recommending the Ministry of Transportation review the case.

Emma Maria Danielle Froh, 22, of Lumby was the driver of a Pontiac Sunfire that crashed on Highway 6 around 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 2014. Her mother, Diedre Naomi-Ann Hughes, 57, of Vernon was in the passenger seat. Both died at the scene.

In a report on Froh’s death, coroner Andrew Cave says the vehicle lost traction after coming around a curve and entered the oncoming lane, where it struck another vehicle. The occupants of the other vehicle were treated in hospital. 

The collision caused the Pontiac to leave the highway and come to a stop off the shoulder on the south side of the highway.

“At the time of the incident the highway was slippery with a covering of ice,” Cave says in his report.

A review of highway maintenance records showed the highway was plowed and salted roughly three hours earlier. Around 5 p.m., the highway was patrolled by a road maintenance shift foreman and was noted to be in good condition, Cave says.

Froh was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the collision. The Pontiac had no defects and was fitted with winter tires. An RCMP traffic analyst found the car was travelling between 84 km/h and 102 km/h as it negotiated the curve. The posted speed limit was 80 km/h. 

Cave noted speed and icy road conditions were a contributing factor in the fatal crash.

The Coroners Service has recommended that a copy of the reports for both Froh and Hughes be reviewed by Ministry of Transportation highway operations 'for information purposes'.

The coroners service investigates all unnatural, sudden, unexpected, unexplained or unattended deaths and makes recommendations to improve public safety and prevent death in similar circumstances.


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