I hope the prosecution is successful and crown doesn't try to deal it down.

What is with all the fat cops in this town? Two are always at 18th+Quinn for people rolling through the stop signs. Theere is a really hefty lady cop I see all the time too. The only thing they run for is when the fresh honey crullers are coming out of the fryer at Timmy's. Seriously, it MUST be an embarrasement to the RCMP to have such obese officers. Definitely they do not do the uniform proud, that's for sure.

I knew Muriel from working with her at the Simon Fraser Lodge. She was a great lady with a great sense of humour. I believe she was heading to work the morning it happened. I'm glad the healing process has been made a bit easier for them having this process end.

Bullet proof vests under the shirts.... not fat cops.

It is great to see that the law is looking a charging people who willfully chooses to drive irradically.

The next step is to hold the road maintenance contractors accountable for not keeping our highways safe. It typically is no secret that it is going to snow, so why not have the equipment ready to work.

As part of the Johnson family I can assure vikingnuck that the weight of an officers heart far surpasses your concern for thier diet(way to get the piont buds). I hope that this case sets a precedent for these ongoing homocides. I cannot emphasize enough that loss of a family member should not be without justice and vague reasoning. Please dont contribute to the hazards on our local roads. I really appreciate this venues accurate reporting.

Does anyone think that the pay scale for truckers, which is mostly based on delivery of goods, rather than per hour time on the roads, has anything to do with the way some of them drive? A couple of years ago, I was waiting to take a lefthand turn beside Art Knapps old store on Hywy97 South (no left-hand turn slot there!)when I was hit from behind by an empty truck, heading for Williams Lake at top speed in order to make a second trip that day.

He did hit the ditch, and only hit me a bit rather than kill me ($7,000 worth of damage), but really, while I know he was a professional driver, going far above the speed limit, I feel the current system of paying only for what is delivered contributes a great deal to the unsafety of the road.

Incidentally, initially the RCMP-type who took almost an hour to arrive, thought I should be 50% at fault. I don't know how he got there. There is only one road. I was on it. There was nowhere else I could be, and I'd been there for quite awhile, waiting for the oncoming traffic to subside. ICBC subsequently changed their stand, but not until after a long fight, which, again, I did not need or deserve.

How do you know the truck was speeding willow?

Vikingnuck - what on earth does the weight of a police officer have to do with this article? Not only is it a rude thing to write, it just doesn't belong here.

I feel for the Johnson family and their loss. However, I have trouble understanding the length and resources used in this investigation. Surveillance and undercover units? Obviously there is more to this tragedy than is being reported. Will everyone be afforded the same investigative prowess when a loved one is murdered by a transport truck or even a non-commercial vehicle.

As for recommendations that result from this inquisition, I can only hazard a guess that it is plain common sense and these notions should already have been implemented.

For one I have some issue with a 25 year old having a commercial endorsement for long-hauling. I hate to use the age assertion, but 7 years possible driving experience coupled with an alleged maturity issue seems like a possible recipe for disaster. I don't know the details and am not laying blame, but one has to wonder.

Was it speeding, inexperience or irresponsibility. Two of these I know are an issue with monster truck drivers. The speed limit of these trucks needs to be lowered to the 80kmh standard in much of Europe, laden or not.

Off topic but relevant is the recent Morricetown collision. Inherently speed was the ruling factor in this mishap. As conditions on the roads were atrocious thanks to our Highways maintenance contractors and their overseers.

Another issue that would indicate that the trucking lobby has enormous power over the Ministry Of Transport is the lack of requirement to use snow rated tires in the winter. These massive vehicles run on summer retreads in the most undesirable conditions, and drive as it were summer. I queried a professional engineer as to how this is possible. Well seems that the basis of pounds per square inch of pressure against the road surface would be ample for traction. This I had to scoff at, hardly an adequate or workable criteria. I just lost respect for professional engineers. Are these the same educated ideologies that the MOT ascertains as to being viable.

Citing a moment of my journey several weeks ago on Highway 16. Road conditions were atrocious. Upon entering a sharp corner at reduced speed due to heavy snow on the road, a chip truck decides to apex the corner F1 style as if it was the last lap of the Canadian Grand Prix. I take evasive action to save the life of my mother and I.( I leave my Wife and child at home for fear of these incidents, leaving them to miss winter trysts to the cabin). Now was the driver attempting to maintain his momentum or looking for traction? Both probably, while putting others at risk. This being of course "professional behavior".

Once again I remind all the drivers, Be Aware, Get There. SAFELY!

I think that the lack of a left turn lane at that location is a serious accident waiting to happen. Willow is fortunate that the trucker was able to (almost) avoid hitting her vehicle. That is a really really poor location for a left turn.
metalman.

"As part of the Johnson family I can assure vikingnuck that the weight of an officers heart far surpasses your concern for thier diet"

What a nice thing to say. Pat does have a big heart and has dealt with many terrible tragedies. If you knew the guy at all, you'd feel bad about putting him down.
He is also a very well respected accident investigator and analyst. I have a great deal of respect for him myself. The kind of things he has had to deal with would break most people. You have no idea....