A coroner has noted the Prince George man who died when he walked into the side of a chip truck in five months ago suffered from dizzy spells, but stopped short of concluding that was the cause of the mishap in her final report on the death, issued Wednesday.
Miklos Bognar, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene Oct. 15, 2012 when he stepped out onto Highway 97 immediately south of the intersection with 15th Avenue just as the truck was passing by.
Bognar had severe ahterosclerosis, or a hardening of the arteries, and was prescribed medication for high cholesterol, coroner Nola Currie said in the report.
"He was reluctant to use these medications on a regular basis and complained of periodic episodes of dizziness," Currie said.
As well, Currie said that a dozen days before the incident, Bognar went to the emergency unit at University Hospital of Northern British Columbia claiming he had been assaulted, but the injuries appeared inconsistent with an attack and RCMP were unable to corroborate his story.
When his mental health was assessed, Bogna, "adamantly denied any suicide ideation or depression and had no history of previous suicide attempts."
Bognar had also complained of abdominal pain on a continual basis, but physicians found nothing, Currie said.
Police had already found the truck's driver was not at fault in Bognar's death. He was seen standing on a traffic island carrying a coffee cup from a nearby fast food restaurant when the driver, heading south on Highway 97, proceeded slowly through the intersection when the light turned green.
"Investigation revealed he made no contact with the tractor unit or the side of the trailer," Currie said. "First contact was determined to be made under the fourth set of axles on the right side of the truck, causing massive injuries."
Bognar was walking outside the crosswalk boundary at the time, Currie said.
"As it could not be determined if Mr. Bognar tripped and fell under the wheels, became dizzy and fell, or intentionally walked into the moving transport vehicle, I classify this death as undetermined and make no recommendations," Currie said.
