The husband of a pregnant pedestrian who was killed in a chain-reaction crash two years ago in Abbotsford has joined his mother-in-law in filing civil claims for financial compensation.
Kevin Wilson is suing ICBC and the drivers of two vehicles involved in the collision, and filed claims in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on March 7.
His wife, Laurel, was seven months’ pregnant with their daughter Chloe when she was killed on her 27th birthday – March 13, 2010.
The News reported in its March 8 edition that his wife’s mother, Melody Jewell, had filed three notices of civil claim on March 2, seeking compensation for the death of her husband (and Laurel’s father), Ralph Jewell, 66.
Kevin, Laurel and Ralph were on a pedestrian island waiting to cross at the intersection of Ware Street and South Fraser Way in Abbotsford, when a truck driven by Shaun James Cochrane ran a red light and collided with a Honda Prelude driven by Breanne Gale.
The Prelude spun into the pedestrians. Wilson and Chloe died in hospital soon after. Ralph was seriously injured and spent the next six months in hospital, where he died on Sept. 15, 2010.
Kevin sustained minor injuries.
Cochrane, 25, pleaded guilty to driving with undue care and attention and was sentenced last July to a lifetime driving ban. Gale was not charged or ticketed.
Kevin and Melody have each filed three civil claims – one against ICBC; one against Cochrane, Gale and Cameron Edwards (the owner of the car driven by Gale) for punitive, special and general damages; and one against the same three individuals for lost income.
Gale has filed two civil claims – against Cochrane and ICBC.
Dairn Shane, the lawyer for both Kevin and Melody, said last week that the matter could take several years to decide, due to its complex nature and the number of claimants involved.
