MONCTON, N.B. – The Southeast District RCMP have completed their investigation into the crash that claimed the life of Nova Scotia RCMP officer Const. Frank Deschênes on Sept. 12, 2017, in Memramcook, N.B.
RCMP said in a press release the investigation found there was not enough evidence to proceed with charges under the Criminal Code of Canada against 31-year-old Vasiliy Meshko from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, but he has been charged with two offences under the Motor Vehicle Act: driving without due care and attention and failing to move over.
As of Jan. 1, 2013, under New Brunswick’s Motor Vehicle Act when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the highway and has its flashing lights on, drivers must:
– Make sure it’s safe to proceed, then move over to the left, away from the vehicle.
– Slow down and proceed with caution;
– If there are two or more lanes of traffic, the driver must move into another lane if it can be done safely.
On Sept. 12, 2017, shortly after 6 p.m., New Brunswick RCMP received a call regarding a traffic collision in the eastbound lane of Highway 2. Preliminary investigation determined Const. Deschênes stopped to assist two people in an SUV in changing a tire when a utility van collided with his police car and the SUV. Const. Deschênes was pronounced dead at the scene. The two people with the SUV were taken to hospital, where they were treated and later released. The driver of the van was also taken to hospital, where he was treated and then taken into police custody. He was later released on conditions set by the court.
Nova Scotia RCMP officer killed in traffic collision near Memramcook, NB
Deschenes, a veteran police officer, worked as a member of RCMP Northwest Traffic Services-Amherst but was on duty with traffic services in New Brunswick at the time of the crash, RCMP said.
Nova Scotia RCMP officer killed on New Brunswick highway remembered as well-loved, brave
Meshko was represented by his lawyer in Moncton Provincial Court today, who requested an adjournment to Friday to enter a plea.
