A coroner has classified as accidental the death of a woman in a head-on collision near Vanderhoof last spring.
In a report, coroner Nola Currie says the woman was a passenger in a full-size sport utility vehicle on May 18, 2018. As it was heading east on Highway 16, the driver of a westbound pickup truck crossed into the opposing lane causing the driver of the SUV the woman was into swerve into the westbound lane to avoid a collision. But at the same time the driver of the pickup truck returned to the westbound lane and collided with the SUV.
The collision occurred on a straight stretch about 20 kilometres east of the community. The road was in good condition and during daylight hours and in good visibility, Currie says.
An RCMP traffic reconstructionist found the pickup truck was travelling 111 to 120 km/h and the SUV 97 to 106 km/h. Why the pickup truck driver swerved into the eastbound lane was not stated.
The woman was wearing a seatbelt and the side airbags deployed. The SUV was pushed back into the westbound ditch with "severe impact intrusion" on the passenger side.
"I classify this death as accidental and make no recommendations," Currie says.
The woman was 57 years old.
