The severity of the charges against a Prince George woman from death of a College of New Caledonia student, struck and killed this summer while crossing Highway 97, have been reduced.
Counts of impaired driving causing death and causing an accident resulting in death against Michelle Denise Dac were dropped on Oct. 10.
She now faces the lesser counts of dangerous driving, driving while impaired and driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08, all under the Criminal Code. An arraignment hearing on those counts is scheduled for Nov. 21 in Prince George provincial court.
Sandeep Kaur died June 6 from injuries suffered when she was hit while trying to cross Highway 97 between 18th and 22nd Avenues, a spot a few hundred metres north of a designated crosswalk.
A 310-metre fence along the highway is now in place to prevent another incident of its kind.
The head of the College of New Caledonia Students Union, Harman Dandiwal, said the project shows the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure listened to concerns raised by the students and the college.
"It's going to help build a safer campus," he said. "We're pretty happy about the outcome."
The fence and its installation cost $75,000 in total and it has been in place since Oct. 22.
Dandiwal acknowledged the mixed feelings about the fence expressed in online forums. Many of the posters contend people should take responsibility for themselves and refrain from jaywalking.
"To a point I agree, but it's been a trouble area...especially the drivers will get that extra peace of mind," Dandiwal said.
The work won't stop there. A ministry spokesperson said improvements to the lights at 22nd Avenue are in store.
"It is not anticipated that an overpass/underpass will be constructed," the spokesperson said.
