Thursday September 19, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 76)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
‘Plein air’ palette: Semiahmoo Arts’ upcoming ‘Paint The Town’ event Sept. 28 will see families, clubs and individual artists painting ‘plein air’ throughout various locations in uptown White Rock. i see page 49
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Accused in fatal crash disputes witness testimony outside court
‘My heart goes out to Brenda’ – driver Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
The driver of a dump truck involved in the deadly head-on collision that killed South Surrey’s Jim Neiss nearly three years ago did not give his side of the story during his trial at Surrey Provincial Court. Outside court Tuesday, Glen Edward Theriault told Peace Arch News that his silence was on the advice of his lawyer.
Noting repeatedly that he wasn’t supposed to comment, Theriault shared a few thoughts nonetheless, including one directed at Neiss’s wife, Brenda Michie. “My heart goes out to Brenda,” he said, as he stood amongst supporters during a break from the proceedings. Theriault is charged with dangerous driving causing death in connection with the Jan. 18, 2011 crash. It occurred just after 5:30 a.m. in the 19800-block
of 16 Avenue, when Theriault’s dump truck crossed a double-yellow line to pass another vehicle. The collision compressed the front section of Neiss’s Ford Explorer into less than half its width. During closing arguments Tuesday, Theriault’s lawyer, Rishi Gill, told Judge Paul Dohm that prosecutors had failed to prove Theriault’s driving was criminal in nature. “Mr. Theriault was the driver of the
truck, his driving alone caused the death of the victim,” Gill conceded. “There is a big dispute over whether (his) driving pattern (further east, between Abbotsford and Campbell Valley Park) was dangerous or negligent. We say the evidence alone cannot support that.” Neiss, 59, had been on his way to work as a Langley school-bus driver when the crash occurred. i see page 4
Glen Theriault
Noise rules questioned
Feds want train-whistle review for White Rock Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Boaz Joseph photo
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and other officers investigate after a body was found at Joe Brown Park Wednesday morning.
17th homicide of the year for City of Surrey
Body found in Panorama Ridge park Sheila Reynolds Black Press
A body was discovered in a park in Surrey Wednesday morning, marking the 17th homicide of the year in the city. The body was found in Joe Brown Park, on Station Road in the Panorama Ridge neighbourhood on Sept. 18. Sgt. Jennifer Pound, spokesperson with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team
(IHIT), said the victim has not been identified and details were minimal as of Peace Arch News’ press deadline Wednesday afternoon. The death pushes Surrey well past the annual average over the past decade of 14 murders. The most recorded was in 2005, when there were 21. Wednesday’s crime scene is just a few blocks from Colebrook Road, where several bodies were found earlier this year, prompting Surrey
Mayor Dianne Watts to announce the installation of video cameras in the area. Anyone with information on the body found in Joe Brown Park is asked contact the IHIT tip line by calling 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), or by email at ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca If you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip on their website at Solvecrime.ca – with files from Kevin Diakiw
Transport Canada wants the City of White Rock and BNSF to review the safety of train-whistling rules that have restricted overnight use of the warning signal for more than two decades. The request was made early this month, in connection with the July 14 death of jogger Anita Lewis. The 42-year-old was struck and killed by a passenger train as she ran across the tracks at a pedestrian crossing in the 15600-block of Marine Drive at about 9:45 p.m. A Transport Canada spokesperson confirmed by email this week that the joint review “involves reviewing signage, signals and fencing to protect pedestrians and vehicles, and to determine if any changes are needed to mitigate public safety and rail safety risks.” Routine train whistling – used to alert pedestrians that a train is coming – at White Rock crossings was restricted between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. in August 1992, at the request of the city. That request was prompted by a Transport Canada order to BNSF the month i see page 10
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