Coroner's inquest jury advises tighter control over trucking industry 8y Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter WAYDE Police was delivering an invitation to his wedding, when the Burnaby man was killed in a devas- tating crash on the Cut last August, The 34-vear-old computer programmer was to have wed his partner, Dale Graham, the next month. Baljinder Singh, at the wheel of an appar- ently brakeless semi-trailer truck rig, ended Police’s future. Singh, 36, of Surrey, was also Killed in the six-vehicle crash. At least two people were injured. A wit- ness to the Aug. 16, 1995, aftermath said it Jooked like a bomb had blasted the crushed dlong the steep section of the Trans-Canada Highway. Singh’s truck rolled aumerous times down the hill, crashing into the centre medi- an and other vehicles along the way. The truck’s container, loaded with exca- vation materials, broke away from the vehicle and smashed into the Mountain Highway overpass, wedging itself into the concrete. Police was travelling in the opposite diree- tion: up the Cur. Police’s car was hit by a Ford that had flown over the median after colliding with Singh’s truck. Police died at the scene. Police’s fiancée, Dale Graham, attended a seven-day inquest in Burnaby into the crash which concluded vesterday. She described the inquest as painful, but informative, “f had to cancel the wedding and plan for a funeral,” said Graham, a Burnaby resident. Some of the recommendations released by the five-member coroner's jury on Tuesday: Boa toll-free number be set up by the Ministry of Transportation for people to report unsafe practices involving the com- and twisted cars. The vehicles were scattered Promoter's windfall a target 7 By Brent Mudry ‘ Contributing Writer “THE man proclaimed as - Canada’s next biilionaire faces _Jegal battles in several courts ; before he can claim his title. "Expatriate West Vancouver stock . promoter Robert Friedland suffered a major setback late last week when the U.S. Environmental — Protection Agency (EPA) slapped a freeze on US8$152 million of his shares. ~The controversial promoter, who | now: lives somewhere between ‘Singapore and Sydney, Australia, has “eadstly denied any personal liabili- ty for a massive environmental disas- ter left behind’ in Colorado by Galactic Resources, a former Vancouver Stock Exchange-listed company he once headed. 'The EPA move came just as Friedland was set to pop off the cork and pour champagne to celebrate the ‘completion of a $4.3 billion takeover .. of Diamond Fields Resources by Inco “Ltd “<= Briedland was set to receive more “than US$500 million of Inco shares -in return: for his Diamond Fields istake, but the U.S. government ‘moved in quickly to protect its inter- ests, After a top-secret strategy played 4. out in courts in Denver, ‘Toronto and Vancouver, B.C. Supreme Court | Justice John Spencer issued an order , Jast week freezing USS$152 million of ” Friedland’ s highly liquid assets. Justice Spencer noted the preliminary evidence “suggests a real risk that he will remove assets trom any jurisdic- fon where a judgment may be had.” Friedland’s Vancouver public rela- tions firm was quick to denounce the move, “Tf the EPA thinks [am going to tolerate this high-handed effort to run roughshod over our civil rights, they have been misadvised,” publicist Ray 7. Torresan guoted Friedland as saying. US. officials were equally quick to dhiim:a_ first-round legal victory: in _ what will be a lengthy court battle. “The operation of the Summitville = mine has caused serious damage to our environment, Twant to see that those responsibte will be held accountable to the people of Colorado.” Colorado Governor Roy Romer stated. Friedland fired back with his usual urefrain, telling the Wall Street Journal thar he has “no legal, ethted! or eval responsibility,’ for the Semmitvibe _muss, one of the largest environmental “contamination mine sites in the U.S. mercial vehicle industry; B commercial vehicle repairers should not inspect their own work on braking systems. The inspections should be done by different gualified mechanics or inspectors: B vehicle repair and maintenance businesses should be monitored through an organized system; Ba protocol be developed among the police. transportation ministry staff and B.C. Coroners Service staff that would allow for cooperative investigations of commercial vehicle fatalities; @ commercial vehicle safety inspectors should be increased from 24 to a number that would allow adequate enforcement and monitoring of regulations concerning trucks; B drivers of motor vehicles with poorly adjusted brakes should be fined $500. Escalating penalties should be fevied for repeat offenders; @ trucks using air brakes should be required to have self-adjusting slack adjusters. But having — self-adjusting slack = adjusters shouldn't remove the responsibility of drivers and owners to ensure brakes are it safe oper- ating condition; #8 owners must be responsible for the candi- NEWS photo Terry Peters Brush with fire NORTH Vancouver District firefighter Rob Swant hoses down a spot fa the 4100 block of Doilarton Highway on Monday afternoon. The ‘brush fire spread along the bank, damaged power and telephone lines and caused smoke to enter some nearby houses. NV schoolroo ~ be in their new cl Front page The position results from a new policy aimed at saving the cash-strapped school district an estimated $250,000. The policy attempts to maximize class sizes by transferring students who register atter their grades are full at local schools, Previously, all students were able to attend local schouls, It’s a policy that’s causing anyiety among parents whose kids have been told there's no room at the focal school. Parent Marlene Hocevar is troubled by the policy, She was told there was no room for her 1G-vear-old son Beats at Eastview clementary in’ Lyne Valley Monday, the first day of new registration, “Pin really upset.” she said. “He's too young to. be walking 10 blocks to and fram school on his own.” Children who attended the sehoot last year are already registered. Eastview is wo blocks from the home she Hocevars moved to during the summer. Beau went to Blueridge last year and can still go back there. Rut the district won't provide tr ausportation ta: the school and: Hacevar, who phins to Jook for work when Beau returns to school, doesn’t drive, Humphries saidh most students i in Bean's pesition will remain in fimbo votd atleas: Sept. 3 chices, aithoggh fo instruction will take hee Mast i nhaced students will be placed if tclass Gn Sept. or even ifit’s only... temporary placement, said Flumphiies. He coukt not provide a date by when all students will 8 for the year. “It's me to say,” schools go on the waiting list, said Humphries. In September, students may get into their local schoo! if room becomes available or {here are sufficient repistra- tions to create new classes, If not, students will be placed in an alternate school. Humphries expects to get numbers on how mary’ stu. really difficult for he said. “lm hoping they will Know as soon _ after the third as possible.” ‘ “Er's not going to be a big problem,” he added. Students who are refused immediate entry to focal tion of their vehicles. A fing of $500 should be levied against an owner of a commercial vehicle found to have puorly adjusted brakes; B more information should be provided to heavy truck operators at the top of the Cut regarding the 8% grade with the use of an overhead flashing sign; @ concrete pier barriers should be installed through the Mountain Highway overpass in both directions af the Trans-Canada Highway. The jury expressed concern that recom- mendations from investigations of previous commercial vehicle crashes had nor been implemented by the government. During the inquest the owner of the truck, Mario Battison of Marr Contractors, was criticized for operating an unsafe vehicle by a former employee. Inquest testimony indicated that the truck was condemned when it was taken to Midtown Truck Services five months before the crash. The truck eventually passed an inspection at that location. The same truck had been condemned by Inland Kenworth in Burnaby. Three hurt in head-on crash SQUAMISH RCMP released the names of three people injured on Saturday in a head-on crash on the Sea to Sky Highway near - Cosmo Creck. Lisa Ross, 23, of Delta, was dri- ving a southbound Honda Civic which allegedly crossed into the oncoming lane. Ross’ vehicle collid- ‘ed with a Chrysler LeBaron driven by 52-year-old Jose Picher, of Surrey, according to Squamish RCMP. Ross’ passenger and brother, Nathaniel Lawrence, 17,.was_in a coma at Lions Gare Hospital to press time. The teenager was visiting from Ontario, according to Squamish RCMP. Both drivers were not seriously injured. Traffic on the road. was delayed for three hours after the 8 a.m. crash. Charges are pending. index @ Around Town. @ Back to Schodi............. 54 sess a COMIN. eessnsieeneed een Y A @ Business............... @ Crossword............ @ Education for Employmernt.....................01 MI INSIGHES ccs ce re & Mailbox... @ North Shore Alert............. dents will be watt-listed in the district throughout the week, adding he's meeting with principals of elementary 2 he said. “Sept. 3 is the first real opporninity we will have to de Humpliies said. Although he dosn't have confirmed numbers, he said secondary schools in the dis- There are more rewistra schouls ta see “how big at problem we've got a head count,” trict are “way overprescribed.” tions han spaces, he said. Humphiries said bis goal is to get as oiny kids in neigh Portside. ee & Sports... eecteeseneee ® Sunshine Girl 2 @ Table Hopping......... W Tee Time oe. That's the first day of borhood sehouls as possible, Barring that, fe hopes to place then in schools as clase to heme as possible, The dismiet is trying to enroll disphiced students in schools that feed the same secondary schools as. their neighborhood schools, Humphries sad. He expects the change in policy to create concern anon parents of students not in school the first day and those placed in scheals outside the neighborhood. Hutchinson agreed transportation won't be provided to displaced stadents. “We have no money.” he @ TV Listings Gi News of the Weird.......20 m@ What's Going on ME Wrighte. ee