A Prince George man has been sentenced to 75 days in jail and issued a two-year driving prohibition for causing an accident resulting in bodily harm.
Vern Jean Marie Robert, 30, was issued the term Wednesday in Prince George provincial court for a July 21, 2012 incident in which he rear-ended another vehicle while trying to flee police.
RCMP were trying to pull over Robert near the intersection of Highways 97 and 16 at about 7:30 a.m. because it was suspected he was drunk, but as soon as the siren and lights were activated, he took off, heading north on Highway 97.
Within a short time, his green Ford Expedition rear-ended a black GMC Jimmy, knocking both vehicles across the oncoming lanes and off the road.
Roberts' vehicle struck a power pole near the B.C. Hydro offices, knocking out power to about 370 customers, including the Pine Centre Mall, for nearly three hours, while the Jimmy came to rest a short distance away.
Both Roberts and the Jimmy's 63-year-old driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Roberts, who had recently moved to Prince George from Fort St. James and held a learner's permit, later gave two breath samples more than twice the legal limit for alcohol, police said at the time.
Roberts was also sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a $200 victim surcharge.
