The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died in a fiery crash near Cache Creek on March 1 to be that of 24-year-old Sorrento resident, Allen Edward Power.
Power was driving westbound 15 kilometres east of Cache Creek when reports say his vehicle drove into the path of an oncoming charter bus carrying 22 Special Olympic athletes, a Special Olympics B.C. staff member, as well as the bus driver.
Power was the only occupant in his vehicle at the time of the accident.
Witnesses say Power’s car struck the front of the bus before veering off to the side in flames.
Bystanders attempted to put out the fire with the use of fire extinguishers, and while they were able to minimize the flames, they were not able to extinguish the fire.
RCMP reported that the damage to the car was so extensive that not even a licence plate number was left.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were on scene, and the highway was shut down for a number of hours as an investigation was conducted.
Five Special Olympics athletes were treated at Royal Inland Hospital for minor injuries. While others were reported to have only bumps and bruises, they were badly shaken.
The bus was on its way from Quesnel to a competition in Kelowna. Given the option of heading home, the athletes chose to continue on to their destination.
RCMP and the BC Coroner’s office continue to investigate the accident.
