Charges laid in fatal accident

A Burk's Falls man has been charged in connection with a motor vehicle accident early this year which left the wife of Powassan mayor Bob Young dead.

The accident occurred Feb. 19 on Highway 17, approximately one km east of Deer Lake Road. An eastbound transport crossed the centre line into the path of a westbound car. Two occupants of the vehicle were transported to the West Nipissing Hospital.

The driver, Anne Rae Young, 54, of Powassan, was later transported to St Joseph's Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Her passenger, Elizabeth Gail Young, 53, also of Powassan, was seriously injured and transferred to the North Bay General Hospital.

The driver of the transport suffered no physical injury.
An OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigator, inspectors from the Ministry of Transportation, and a representative of the Ministry of Environment, attended the scene.

The investigation has ended with the driver of the transport truck, Frederick Passingham, 38, being charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. He will appear in a North Bay court room next month to answer to the charges.