Driver goes to court - again

Photo: Darren Handschuh

A Vernon man will be heading to court later this year to face charges of dangerous driving – again.

Ian Burns was convicted in Vernon provincial court of dangerous driving causing bodily harm last year, following an incident on June 26, 2013 when the truck he was driving struck volunteer BX Swan Lake firefighter Stephan Hidasi who was investigating a call of a possible forest fire.

However, Neil MacKenzie, communications council with the criminal justice branch, said a “procedural irregularity” in the original trial meant the trial has to be redone.

On Wednesday, Burns elected to be tried by a Supreme Court judge alone.

Hidasi received minor injuries in the low-speed collision and Burns was arrested at the scene.

Burns was travelling at five to 10 km/h when Hidasi was struck in the Hartnell Road area of the BX.

Hidasi claimed the truck struck him on the hand, arm and hip – spinning him around a quarter of a turn. Hidasi said he also used his hand to slap the truck's mirror out of the way so it would not hit him in the head as it passed by.