PE, SAT Ks a ee es, ” = va WEDNESDAY October 30, 1996 PICK UP A FREE REFLECTIVE TRICK OR TREAT BAG THIS WEEK. 1790 Marine Dr. North Van 987-8006 Witnesses testify in case of N. Van senior crushed by bus By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter DIANE Purser didn’t notice anything unusual about the senior who was stepping off the back of the bus on June 1, 1995. Moments Jater Ruth Erickson, 68, was crushed to death under the rear wheel of a B.C. Transit bus on East 3rd Street near St. Georges Avenue in North Vancouver, “LT heard a scream.” “P saw the woman's face and it wis gone... T remember it felt as though we ran over 4 speed bump,” said Purser, 19, dur- ing testimony on Monday in North Vancouver provincial court, Purser was sitting at the back of the Lyan Valley 228 bus. The North Vancouver resident was taking the bus back to her new home in Surrey during the fate afternoon. Atthe wheel was B.C. Transit driver Ronald Wayne Parner Turner, 49, of North Vancouver, was charged with driving without due care and atcntian im connection with the Newb Vancouver woman's death The charge fally under the Motor Velncle Act Erickson died immediately after her body was crushed: by one of the dual Gres. according to ddmitted tacts read out to Judge Ellen Burdett by Crown Lawyer Mark bevy Purser and another @itness, Frances Broughton, testified | PIN We deliver what I you want when you need it! Cail 980-7300 NEWS photo Brad Lodwidge NORTH Van RCMP at the accident scene where Ruth Erickson was crushed to death under a bus !ast year. har minutes after the accident, the bus driver said he was talk Ing toa won standing beside him, He said: his view was blocked whea he moved the bus from the bus stop. The woman in question, Rene Cox, tewtitied that she board ed the bus wanting to know how much the fire was to Vancouver. “He owas fooling towards me. pulling way and saving Vanwomver aad it happened thar quick.” said Con. WEATHER Dusrdav: Sun and clouds High DiC. tow $C. Graeme and his ghouls NORTH Vancouver's Graeme Ross is again turning his East 6th Street home over to the forces of darkness to celebrate Halloween. Ross and his ghoulish creations invite the public to 616 East 6th St. tonight and tomor- row night from dusk until 10 p.m. for a frightfully scary show. The newest addition to what has become one of the more popular North Shore haunted houses is the boat and its bony cap- tain pictured at left. The young woman said that Turner did not get a chance to say how much the fare was before Erickson was run over. Cox's testimony contradicts what the 19-year veteran bus driver said to an investigating North Vancouver Mountie. Turner said that he told Cox how much the fare was to Vancouver and that Cox had dropped the amount into the coin box, He made the statements in an hour-long interview that began less than 30 minutes following Erickson's death. Turner also stated that he took a quick dook in his mirrors betore mowing the bus. Cov testified thar the driver was looking at her face when the bus started moving. The admissibility of Turner's statement to the Mountic was challenged by his lawver Gina Fiorillo during a voir dire hearing. ‘Turner was a member of the North Vancouver Pransit Safety Committee at the time of Eriekson’s death. He had served as 4 unton representative on the transit safety committee for about SIN Vears, ‘Turner sat behind his laws Monday. The grey haired man with a moustache was wearing 4 ted cardigan with a grey plaid sbirt, beige pants and black shoes Wconvieted, Turner would receive sy penalty paints, a pos uible fine and a possible driver's hcence suspense. ‘Two frequent bus users. Parser and her friend Colleen Hatch. testified that they knew ‘Turner ase bus driver who har ned. “Howas elmo dike be was always ina rush,” said Purser Avudeo of the acchient scone shewing the body of Erickseat r during court proceedings on vcas shower tothe nade Famers trabis set to ran dor three davs CG HuSiness pie