A decision on whether criminal charges will be laid regarding a fatal collision between a houseboat and a speedboat on Shuswap Lake that occurred more than a year ago is expected before the end of December.
Kamloops Crown counsel Don Mann continues to review evidence provided by police to determine whether charges are appropriate. Once he has completed his review of the file, the final decision will be made by the regional Crown counsel. Mann said Thursday he hopes the decision will be made at least by Christmas and possibly sooner.
“It’s taken somewhat longer than I’d initially anticipated,” he said.
Fifty-three-year-old Kenneth William Brown of Chase, the driver of the houseboat, was killed when a speedboat crashed head-on with the houseboat about 11:20 p.m. on July 3, 2010. The collision, which left the speedboat embedded inside the houseboat, occurred as boats were leaving Magna Bay in Shuswap Lake following the Canada Day weekend fireworks display.