A 32-year-old man has been charged with impaired driving and criminal negligence causing death in a horrific crash that killed a woman and injured two others in North Burnaby last July.
Emergency responders were called to Hastings Street by Willingdon Avenue just before 5 a.m. on July 19, 2023, for a crash involving a Toyota Supra and a Chevrolet Silverado pickup, according to information provided by police at the time.
A woman, a passenger in the Supra, was killed, and two others injured, police said.
The Independent Investigations Office was called in to investigate because, earlier that morning, a Vancouver police officer had followed the pickup after spotting it heading eastbound on Hastings Street in Vancouver and running a red light at Clark Drive at a “high rate of speed,” according to an IIO news release.
The officer had followed the truck, but the police watchdog concluded police had not been responsible for the collision.
"Given the recklessness exhibited by the driver of the Silverado, the officer appropriately determined that a pursuit could be unsafe and did not attempt it," stated a news release at the time.
Charges were laid in the case Tuesday, Sept. 10, against Kolton Lockyer.
He faces one count each of criminal negligence causing death, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing death, impaired operation causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing death, impaired operation causing bodily harm, and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
The failing-to-stop charge is related to a hit-and-run collision in Vancouver before the deadly crash in Burnaby, according to Burnaby RCMP.
"Burnaby RCMP's criminal collision investigation team worked tirelessly to bring this investigation to this stage," Burnaby RCMP Insp. Peri Mainwaring said in an emailed statement to the Burnaby NOW Wednesday. "This is an extremely tragic event, but we hope this process can help bring some healing to the family and friends of the victim."
Lockyer has been released pending his next court date on Oct. 10.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on X/Twitter @CorNaylor
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