Overview
- RCMP said five young children were in a utility terrain vehicle when the seven‑year‑old driver lost control and the vehicle rolled several times on a rural road near Pouce Coupe, with an eight‑year‑old boy pronounced dead at the scene and the driver later dying in hospital.
- Dawson Creek RCMP began investigating the June 4 crash and have issued statements of condolence while not yet announcing any charges or final findings.
- Three other children who were in the vehicle suffered minor injuries and received medical attention at the scene or nearby facilities.
- British Columbia classifies side‑by‑sides as off‑road vehicles and its rules ban under‑16s from driving with passengers and require drivers to meet manufacturer height and weight limits plus adult supervision, a regulatory framework that is central to the probe.
- The outcome of the RCMP inquiry could prompt closer local enforcement or public safety reminders about off‑road vehicle rules and adult supervision for child riders in rural communities.