Wednesday April 3, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Couple die in Hwy 97 crash By roger Knox BlAcK PReSS
RcMP are still trying to discover why a pickup truck crossed the centre line on Highway 97 south of vernon early Sunday afternoon, hitting a station wagon head-on. Three people have died as a result of the crash between a northbound chevrolet pickup and a southbound volvo station wagon shortly before 2 p.m. north of the Bailey Road turnoff. “The exact cause has yet to be determined, and our officers are working to piece things together,” said vernon-north okanagan RcMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk Tuesday morning. “We’ll be looking at the mechanical condition of the vehicle. We’ll be looking a little more closely at the surviving driver, who remains in hospital. Was there medical factors or other things that may have contributed to this crash?”
Police have said that alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor. Two men – a 19-year-old from Armstrong who was a passenger in the truck, and the 70-year-old driver of the volvo from Salmon Arm – died at the scene. A third person, the 67-year-old wife of the Salmon Arm man, died in Kelowna General Hospital after her family made the decision to remove her from life support. She suffered serious head injuries in the crash. Some of her organs will be donated. “The families of the victims have asked for more time to notify other family members before names will be released,” said Molendyk. The driver of the truck, a 21-yearold Spallumcheen man, remains in hospital with head injuries but is expected to recover. Police were hoping to talk to him Tuesday or Wednesday. The highway was closed for several hours after the accident.
Doctors’ group has charity status revoked By Barb Brouwer oBSeRveR STAFF
Promoting nuclear disarmament has cost Physicians for Global Survival (PGS) their charitable status, says active member and past-president dr. Warren Bell. A year ago, the conservative government allocated $8 million over two years to the canada Revenue Agency to audit the country’s nonprofits, particularly in terms of political activities. A year and $5 million later, PGS is the only one of 880 charitable organizations audited by the cRA to lose their status. When contacted by the Observer, a cRA spokesperson said comment
was not allowed because of privacy issues. But two letters to PGS were forwarded to the Observer, one written in november 2008, following an audit of the organization’s books, charging that the non-profit group was “not constituted and operated for exclusively charitable purposes and does not devote all of its resources to charitable activities.” cRA’s next letter, a notice of intention to revoke dated Feb. 22, 2011, rejected PGS’ response, noting that “it existed in part for ‘the promotion of nuclear disarmament,’ which we considered to be an un-
James murray/oBSeRveR
Hop till you drop
Jada Mack stops to enjoy one of her Easter eggs during the annual Sorrento Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt held Sunday morning at the Sorrento Community Park. More than 500 people turned out in the bright sunshine for the event.
See Cra audit on page A2
This week A pair of Salmon Arm skiers is competing in the Whistler Cup downhill races. See A13. Son of reggae icon Bob Marley brings his own rhythms to Roots and Blues. See A15.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Time Out..................... A9 Sports............... A11-A14 Arts & Events ... A15-A18 Vol. 106, No. 14, 36 pages