An ill-fated party in the Bear Creek area has taken another tragic turn.
Christopher Gerald Bezaire, 26, is expected to appear in a Kelowna courtroom March 22, to deal with the charge of Criminal Negligence Causing Death.
The court-date relates to the June 11, 2011 crash that took the life of Jody Rud, Bezaire’s longtime friend.
Bezaire was behind the wheel of a Pontiac Sunfire, driving along Bear Main Forest Service Road, when Rud got on the roof to car surf, said Const. Steve Holmes, last year.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Bezaire— who had travelled from Estevan, Sask to visit Rud— lost control and rolled the Sunfire down an embankment 10 kilometres up the logging road.
Rud, who had made a name for himself during his years at UBC Okanagan for doing everything from organizing Remembrance Day ceremonies to working on homelessness initiatives, died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
The vehicle, which belonged to Rud, was seized for investigation and a mechanical inspection was ordered. At the time of the crash, police reported that there was no evidence suggesting the use or influence of Drugs or Alcohol in relation to this incident.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have information on this incident to contact the Kelowna RCMP’s Central Okanagan Traffic Services at 250-980-5353 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).
