Officer fined $1,500 for crash that killed 2
CBC News
Posted: Mar 17, 2011 4:19 PM PT
Last Updated: Mar 17, 2011 4:38 PM PT
RCMP Const. Petina Kostiuk's cruiser was badly damaged when it hit another car broadside, killing two men. (CBC)
A Burnaby RCMP officer who pleaded guilty to driving without due care in a crash that killed two young men has been fined $1,500.
Const. Petina Kostiuk was driving her police cruiser to a 911 suicide call in October 2007 when she crashed into a car at the corner of Kingsway and Royal Oak.
Albert Haczewski, 27, and his friend, Koyo Hara, 26, were killed.
Haczewski's widow, Paula, said the fine is not enough.
"I don't support that or agree," Haczewski said. "But I can't do anything about [it]. It's the law and it's very disappointing."
She said she was not seeking revenge on the officer, but believed that a fine was "inadequate" punishment for "the loss of two lives."
Kostiuk had been facing two counts of dangerous driving causing death, but those charges were dropped when she pleaded to the lesser charge earlier this week.
She made a tearful apology to the victims' families in court Thursday, which Haczewski said she appreciated.
"I had a lot of resistance and anger the first time I saw her but then I found compassion," said Haczewski. "I authentically feel sorry for her and I know she went through a lot as well, as we all did."
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