Coroner report on fatal crash

Photo: Contributed - RCMP

A coroner's report has listed as accidental the deaths of three people involved in a head-on collision on Highway 97 south of Vernon nearly two years ago.

Allan Arthur Allport, 70, and his wife Fay Dorothy Allport, 67, both from Salmon Arm, were killed when their Volvo was slammed head-on by a Chevy Silverado pickup on March 31, 2013.

Allan Allport died at the scene, while his wife was pronounced dead the following day at Kelowna General Hospital.

A third person, Eric David Alexander Robertson, 19, of Armstrong, a passenger in the pickup, also died at the scene.

According to the coroner's report released Thursday, all three died from blunt force trauma resulting from the crash.

The driver of the pickup, Brandon James Kenneth McGregor, 21 at the time, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death. His next scheduled court appearance is March 31 in Vernon.

In her report, Coroner Margaret Janzen said an RCMP reconstructionist concluded the collision occurred when the northbound pickup crossed the centre line into the path of the Volvo.

Evidence at the scene indicated Arthur Allport, driver of the Volvo, had pulled over to the shoulder and slowed down in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid a collision.

"There was no indication that the driver of the Chevrolet had taken any evasive action to avoid the collision," stated Jenzen in her report. "The vehicles collided in a driver-to-driver configuration. The Chevrolet flipped over the Volvo and landed upside down."

She said the Volvo stayed upright, coming to rest facing east.

No mechanical inspection was conducted on either vehicle.