Last year, Delta's Hwy 17A horrific and fatal crash was reported by Mission Base B. C. Frozen food, failing to maintain farm vehicles, or "even (have) the knowledge to transport farm vehicles safely on highways."
That conclusion is detailed in a police clash investigation report obtained by the murdered woman's family.
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On October 1, 2021, Norman Shelley announced her I said goodbye to my mother.
Less than 30 minutes later, Joan Shelley was dead.
"To lose a member of her family so suddenly and violently is a terrifying experience," Shelly said in an interview with Global News.
Her 77-year-old mother of Sherry is heading down a dark highway toward her final shift as a cemetery dispatcher before her retirement. We drove north on 17A to yellow cabs in Vancouver. She crashed into the rear of a slow-moving farm vehicle, shoving part of a Nissan Sentra underneath it.
READ MORE: Delta senior killed after being rear-ended by large agricultural vehicle: Police
First Her counterpart tried to help Joan, but she died on the spot.
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"The front dashboard in his seat was in his rear seat. It was just terrifying," said Son. remembered.
Sherry's car was destroyed in a collision with his Oxbo Super Jack Bean and his harvester in 2002. I was. Police said the harvester was operating without rear lights, flashing red lights, wide road signs or red flags.
"You're driving 90 km/h in the middle of the night on a highway with no lights," Shelley said.
"Basically, you are his 32,500-pound obstacle."
Eric Butler hit a farm vehicle on Highway 17A when South He played basketball at the Delta Recreation Center. I was going home after coaching. He stepped off the Delta Portway overpass before the fatal crash.
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"Suddenly, a passenger yelled 'Watch out' and I was really startled," Butler said. Global told his news.
With these words, Butler immediately performed a shoulder check and pulled into the passing lane to narrowly avoid a collision.
READ MORE: Searching for dash cam video of deadly crash of farm vehicle at low speed in Delta
As I was passing it, it was just long enough to really realize there was nothing behind it. There are no lights.
Sherry's son filed a Freedom of Information Request to receive a redacted copy of the Delta Police report on the crash.
"Several eyewitnesses recall being hit by agricultural vehicles due to lack of lighting and nearly becoming victims," the report states.
Sherry also found that a mechanical inspection "farm vehicles were not in roadworthy condition." I know, I was traveling slower than usual due to transmission issues.
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"The company knew the transmission was not working properly, but it was still on the highway. vehicles were allowed to enter,” the investigative report said.
After a thorough investigation, including consultation with barristers, Delta Police told Global News that the evidence collected did not meet the criteria for criminal prosecution and that a report was filed with barristers. Said it wasn't.
"My mother was doomed when they put that car on the highway on purpose. My mother didn't stand a chance," Shelley said.
Criminal charges were not recommended, Sergeant. James Sandberg said enforcement action had been taken.
In November 2021, a Box 1 notice and order under the Motor Vehicles Act was sent to the registered owner of agricultural vehicles, Nadia Shah, British Columbia. Frozen Foods - Harvesters must be inspected by a government approved facility and all safety defects repaired.
In April, a farm vehicle driver was ticketed for failing to display his rear lights. was given. $109 fine and no points.
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When Jasdeep Singh Sandhu, 25, missed his court appearance on Aug. 9, The ticket was deemed undisputed and he was found guilty of the crime.
A farm vehicle owner also received a ticket under commercial transportation regulations for failing to flag a heavy vehicle. This fined him $86 and no points.
The company contracted by the harvester was also issued a ticket for not properly equipping the vehicle, fined $109 and no points.
Fines totaling $304.
"Ultimately, we need accountability," Shelley said.
Global News Reported His B . C. Frozen Foods was given the opportunity to explain the steps it had taken to safely operate the harvester since the fatal crash and enforcement action, but did not receive a response by the deadline.
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The company also claims that farm vehicles have rear lights, flashing red lights, wide payload signs, and no red flags. He also did not answer when asked why he was traveling on a dark highway where the victim and several witnesses could not see it.
WorkSafeBC said it did not investigate the fatal clash because there were no reports of worker injuries. rice field.
State agencies responsible for workplace safety have completed many inspections on order in BC over the years.
Between 2018 and 2021, WorkSafeBC conducted his 39 inspections at BC Frozen Foods and placed a total of 31 orders for mission-based businesses.
Read more: Driver sentenced to five months in prison for accident killing Olivia Malcolm
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"It was a big black wall that no one would have noticed until the last second," said Delta South Liberal. MLA's Ian Payton told Global News.
Paton, who is also a dairy farmer, drove past the aftermath of 2021's tragedy and said it was a mystery why giant harvesters would be traveling in the dark on public roads.
"Throughout this state, farmers transporting farm equipment in the late October , lighting, or even a pilot vehicle behind a slow-moving vehicle,” Paton told Global News in an interview.
"You're driving and the next minute your life is shattered and you're gone," Shelley said.
"This shouldn't happen and will happen again."
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
