September 18, 2014 - 5:21 PM
RICHMOND, B.C. - Police believe a 28-year-old Richmond, B.C., man accused of rear-ending a car and killing a passenger in the back seat was drunk.
RCMP Sgt. Annie Linteau says the passenger was in the back of a Mercedes that was stopped in a bus lane on Highway 99 northbound near the Steveston interchange when a Jeep slammed into it at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.
The 43-year-old woman was pronounced dead in hospital while the driver and front passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries and have been released from hospital.
The driver of the Jeep was arrested, and police at the scene determined that his ability to operate a vehicle was impaired by alcohol.
He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on March 24.
Mounties say people who witnessed the collision remained at the scene and were instrumental in the investigation, which is continuing.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014