Charges have been filed against a man who allegedly killed an elderly man and injured a woman on Vancouver Island.
Jacob Aaron Pardiac, 29, faces one count of operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by alcohol, operation of a motor vehicle causing death while impaired by cocaine, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by alcohol, operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm while impaired by cocaine, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.
According to the BC Highway Patrol, the incident took place shortly after 2:30 a.m. on March 2, 2024 along Highway 19A near Qualicum Beach. Moments earlier, a woman had lost control of her minivan and hit a power pole. An 80-year-old man from Red Deer pulled over to help, and the two got out of their respective vehicles.
Pardiac then allegedly collided with the minivan, striking both pedestrians. The man was killed, and the woman was "seriously injured."
"BC Highway Patrol will do everything we can to investigate and charge people who choose to drive while impaired by alcohol and drugs," Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said. "We have seen repeated incidents this year where people trying to help after a collision end up hurt or killed, and it's terribly sad."
He went on to note that while BC Highway Patrol "applauds the sentiment of anyone trying to help after a collision," people "need to understand that highways are extremely dangerous places when fast-moving cars and trucks come across unexpected pedestrians."