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Young boy survives deadly crash

Tragedy leaves two men dead
Laura Walz

 UPDATED Wednesday, April 11:  A young child has survived an SUV crash that left two young men dead on a forest service road south of town.

Powell River RCMP reported the vehicle, a 1993 Chevrolet SUV, lost control while heading down a hill and rolled over ejecting a 21-year-old passenger and 22-year-old driver. The male passenger was ejected into a ditch and pinned under the vehicle. He died instantly.

The male driver was ejected around 20 feet from the vehicle and was confirmed dead about an hour later.

A two-year-old boy, who was secured in a car seat in the back of the vehicle, was uninjured.

The accident happened around 6:25 pm on Monday, April 9 on the Granite Lake Main Forest Service Road. The victims were on a fishing trip with friends and were on their way home. Their friends were about 30 seconds behind them in another vehicle and called 911. They did not witness the accident.

Constable Chris Bakker, Powell River RCMP, said the collision analyst determined the victims were not wearing seat belts. "What this shows is that wearing your seatbelt properly, using car seats and proper safety equipment does save lives," he said. "That's why the RCMP is out there doing enforcement, because we do want to save lives of people on the road."

Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, Bakker added.

Bakker also said the little boy is now in the care of family.

Rob Southcott, unit chief at Powell River BC Ambulance Service station, said members of Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department (MFVD) were first on the scene.

MVFD chief Dave Keiver said eight volunteer firefighters and two of their vehicles attended the scene.

An ambulance from the Powell River station arrived shortly after, followed by a helicopter from Vancouver with an advanced life support medical team. A second ambulance from the Powell River station was the fourth emergency vehicle to arrive on the scene.

The Powell River ambulance crew transported the young boy to Powell River General Hospital, Southcott said.

The road was closed Monday night and during the day Tuesday while RCMP and the BC Coroner’s Service conducted an investigation. A collision analyst attended the scene from Vancouver Island Tuesday morning.

At this time it is not known what factor or factors caused the accident and the investigation remains open.

No names have been released.