Regional District Director Dies After Tractor Trailer Spills Load

By 250 News

Flags fly at half mast outside the Regional District of Fraser Fort George Building to  pay respects to Director Shelly Zenzen.                

Prince George, B.C. - A Prince George area woman, Shelly Zenzen, is dead following an accident on highway 1 earlier this week. She died at the scene of the accident Tuesday after a semi trailer tractor loaded with railway ties lost its load hitting two vehicles and dumping the contents of the trailer onto the highway.

Shelly Zenzen was the sole occupant in her vehicle which was northbound on the highway.

The occupants of the other vehicles including the transport truck driver were injured but not seriously.

Evidence at the scene and witness reports say that speed was a factor in the accident. Provincial commercial vehicle inspectors had the highway closed for several hours while they investigated the crash.

Shelly Zenzen was a Director of the Regional District of Fraser Fort George. She had represented the Upper Fraser, Willow River area on the board since 2002.

In the photo at right, (taken in May of 2007) Deputy Premier Shirley Bond, Director Shelly Zenzen, Solicitor General John Les, and Ministry of Environment’s Lyle Larson, look at  images  of the Fraser River bank in Shelley, before and after  rip rap was added.  This was a priority project for Director Zenzen.

At today`s Regional District meeting,  the chair Zenzen would have normally occupied was vacant, and on her desk, a single rose.  Her alternate , Wendy  Robinson, took a seat further down  the  row.  Through tears, she thanked  the  Regional District for its help "Ìn this very difficult time."

District Chair, Art Kaehn was visibly shaken when he asked everyone at today’s meeting of the board to stand for a moment of silence in honor of Shelly Zenzen who he described as dedicated person, who was honored to represent her area.

Kaehn says the Regional District is deeply saddened by her death. "Her time with us was too short".

Details  of funeral arrangements have not yet been released.

In the wake of this tragedy, the Board will have to make arrangements for a byelection.  The decision on when that byelection will be held will be made in January when the Board appoints a Chief Electoral Officer.  An election would  then have to take place  within  80 days.

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