SKIING BEGINS | Alpine season officially gets underway at Silver Star Mountain Resort Thursday [A6]
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012
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Driver takes stand in fatal accident trial
Time wiTh SanTa
ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
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Kennedy McIntyre, three, and her sister Cora, seven, chat with Santa over breakfast at the Village Green Centre’s Breakfast With Santa Saturday morning. Santa will be making appearances throughout the North Okanagan leading up to Christmas.
He said he remembered details of his trip up Aberdeen Road, the speed he was going, the weather. But what Crown counsel wanted to know of the accused, Chase Garett Donaldson, was how he could not remember making what Crown termed the most important phone call of his life – that being to 911 after he allegedly struck and killed KieraLeigh Carlson as she walked along Aberdeen Road the night of April 30, 2010. Donaldson, 29, has pleaded not guilty to one count each of dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at an accident causing bodily harm in connection with an incident on Aberdeen Road April 30, 2010 in Carlson’s death. Crown counsel Iain Currie spent most of Tuesday in Donaldson’s Supreme Court trial in Vernon poking away at Donaldson’s testimony after he was placed on the stand by his lawyers, Glenn Verdurmen and Paul Danyliu. Currie pointed out to Donaldson, who testified he was
alone in his vehicle that night, that records from the accused’s cell phone show a call to 911 was made shortly after the time Carlson was struck. “The reason you called 911 was because you believed you might have hit a person,” said Currie. “That the repercussions of this were so urgent that you had to conclude not if you hit a person, but if a person was dead or dying. As a result, you dialed 911.” “No,” said Donaldson. “No?” asked Currie. “I don’t remember dialing 911.” “It was a time of your life when you had a reason to call 911,” said Currie. “Yes,” answered Donaldson, who earlier testified that on April 30, 2010, he had been at a family function in the Bella Vista area, had two beers and returned to his Coldstream house. He said he got the keys to the family car, a 2006 Subaru Impreza, and was heading to his brother-inlaw’s house for a couple of hours. He left the house around 8:30 p.m.
See CROWN on A5
City confident despite looming resignations the city,” said Todd Montgomery, OKLVFA president. “Should the association’s concerns be heard and a mutual agreeable contract be drawn up, many of the valuable volunteers that serve today will continue to serve for many years to come.” The association had requested to appear at city council’s Nov. 26 open meeting but Mayor Rob Sawatzky declined. “The mayor also declined a request from a member of the Landing community to present a petition with 1,670 signatures,” said Montgomery, adding that the petition called for the contract to be renewed. “A formal report has been submitted to the city that outlines the reasons why many members refuse to be part of the proposed
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integrated fire services.” Sawatzky defends his decision to not allow the Landing volunteers and a resident to appear before council. “They are legal and labour issues and we are constrained by law on what we can say. The reason the laws are brought in is to protect the individuals involved,” he said. “We do not negotiate contracts via delegations or petitions.” However, Coun. Patrick Nicol wants a discussion Dec. 10 about possibly allowing a resident to present the petition. In terms of council having another discussion about ending the contract, Sawatzky says that also won’t happen. “There is no new information and nothing for us to reconsider,” he said.
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The city decided earlier this year not to renew a contract with the association. Vernon officials insist there won’t be a Instead, Landing volunteers have been invitgap in service if volunteer firefighters walk ed to join the Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association and to become part of off the job. a single command model based out Twenty of 26 Okanagan of the Vernon hall. Landing firefighters have stated The Vernon department is also they will quit as of Jan. 31 if the recruiting new volunteer members. city does not agree to renew a ser“I am confident we will be able vice contract with the Okanagan to serve our customers.” said Green. Landing Volunteer Firefighters “We hope more than six (Landing Association. volunteers) will come over but that’s “We have highly skilled career Keith Green a personal choice. The Landing stastaff and 25 volunteers at station is not shutting down.” tion one (downtown),” said Keith The OKLVFA is urging council Green, Vernon fire chief. “We also have confirmation of six to reconsider not renewing the contract. “A great deal will be lost at a huge cost to Landing firefighters over to us.” RICHARD ROLKE
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