The wheels of justice are grinding slowly regarding the fatal speed boat-houseboat collision that occurred in July last year in Magna Bay, but they continue to move.
Chase RCMP Sgt. Troy Beauregard said police hope to forward their investigational package to Crown counsel within a month.
“This is the most time-consuming part of the investigation,” Beauregard said Monday. “We have to churn out all the paperwork and make sure the full investigational package is there.”
Police forward their information to the Crown prosecutor with recommended charges, and then the Crown must review the information and decide if charges are warranted. That, too, may take time.
“We understand people want information, but it does take time,” Beauregard said.
The speedboat and houseboat crashed head-on about 11:20 p.m. Saturday, July 3, as boats were leaving Magna Bay in Shuswap Lake following the annual Canada Day weekend fireworks display. The speedboat ended up completely embedded inside the cabin of the houseboat.
Killed was 53-year-old Kenny Brown of Chase, the driver and owner of the houseboat.
Driving the speedboat was Leon Reinbrecht of Celista.
There were 13 people on the houseboat and three on the speedboat.
Eight people were taken to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and all but two were released the next day. A baby under one year was sleeping in the cabin of the boat and was not injured.