British ColumbiaA release from the B.C. Prosecution Service details the severe winter conditions on the roadway that day, including black ice, snow and slush, and how a combination of factors contributed to the fatal accident. Crash happened because of icy road conditions and ‘unexpected hazards,’ prosecution service says Chad Pawson · CBC News · Posted: Dec 09, 2025 2:43 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.An eight-year-old boy was killed in a head-on crash between an SUV and a snowplow clearing Highway 3 near Castlegar, B.C., on Dec. 7. (B.C. RCMP Highway Patrol)The B.C. Prosecution Service says no charges have been approved in the death of an eight-year-old boy from the Nelson, B.C., area who was killed a year ago in a head-on collision with a snowplow near Castlegar.The boy and his five-year-old brother were travelling in a green Kia SUV being driven by their 44-year-old stepfather when the collision happened near the Mackee Creek FSR junction just after 8 a.m. PT on Dec. 7, 2024.The eight-year-old was killed, while his younger brother and stepfather suffered minor injuries and the 65-year-old driver of the snowplow appeared to be unhurt, police said at the time. In a statement Monday, the prosecution service said B.C. Highway Patrol had submitted a report to them indicating the driver of the SUV had committed a careless driving offence, but said they had determined no charges should be laid. “There is insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Kia Driver was driving in a manner that was negligent, too fast for the conditions, or that he demonstrated a lack of consideration for other persons using the highway,” reads a seven-page release from the prosecution service.Highway had black iceThe release details the severe winter conditions on the roadway that day, including black ice, snow and slush, and how a combination of factors contributed to the fatal accident.It says that sometime before the collision, another vehicle had gone into the ditch and other vehicles had stopped to help, including the snowplow. As a result, the plow was parked in the eastbound lane, “partially over the centre line, encroaching into the westbound lane.”The report says the Kia driver was travelling westbound when he approached the scene and tried to stop, but couldn’t gain traction. He tried to navigate the space between the plow and vehicles on the shoulder of his lane, but partially collided with the plow’s raised blade. The Kia then struck a pedestrian, a 57-year-old Castlegar man who was seriously injured, according to police at the time.Driver wasn’t going too fast: report”There is insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Kia Driver was driving in a manner that was negligent, too fast for the conditions, or that he demonstrated a lack of consideration for other persons using the highway,” reads the report.It says the crash happened because of the sudden change in road conditions, “unusual and unexpected hazards on both shoulders and a snowplow stopped on the highway protruding to some degree into oncoming traffic.”In an email to CBC News, B.C. Highway Patrol said it ensured the investigation was thorough and complete.”B.C. Highway Patrol believes the process was followed appropriately and this investigation was given the respect and attention it deserved,” said. “From the police perspective, this investigation is now concluded.”ABOUT THE AUTHORChad Pawson is a CBC News reporter in Vancouver. Please contact him at chad.pawson@cbc.ca.
No charges laid in snowplow collision that killed 8-year-old near Castlegar
