Five charges filed against UTV driver in St. John crash

Five charges of vehicular assault related to the early-morning UTV accident near St. John were filed Nov. 5 in superior court by Prosecutor Denis Tracy against Alexander S. Haxby, 40, Bowen Island, B.C. He has been summoned to appear in court here Dec. 4. The charges list alleged injured passengers in the accident which took place on Rogers Road, an unimproved road which loops around the south side of Webb’s Slough Aug. 30. The UTV reported to be driven by Haxby had been carrying six passengers.

According to the arrest report by Deputy Justin DeRosier, Haxby and victims in the UTV had been drinking. The account said people in the accident reported they had been riding around since about 2 a.m. DeRosier’s report said he responded to the report of the accident at 5:45 a.m. and when he arrived at the scene, four people were being treated on Rogers Road. He reported Haxby had been driving the UTV southbound in a field and went over a 10 to 12-foot bank and crashed onto Rogers Road.

Three of the injured people were taken from the scene by two helicopters to Providence Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. A fourth was taken to Sacred Heart by ambulance, and a fifth alleged victim was transported to Whitman Hospital in Colfax. The report said victims in the accident said three passengers were riding with Haxby in the front seats of the UTV and three were riding in the back. The account said victims reported Haxby had been drinking earlier that night and others told the deputy they had all been drinking. One of the alleged victims reported it was “pitch black” at the time they crashed.

Haxby was taken to Sacred Heart where he was treated and released. The arrest report said a warrant was issued to obtain Haxby’s treatment record at the hospital and results of a blood alcohol test conducted at about 8:15 that morning listed a reading of .086 percent.

Victims listed in the five counts include Matt Leblond, Nicole Brown, Ken Buchan, Elizabeth Petring and Kristopher Sneve.