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Trial set for driver alleged to cause fatal accident in Penticton

Olalla man to stand trial for fatal accident he allegedly caused last summer in Penticton

Frank Tamok, who is alleged to have caused a fatal accident near Penticton, will stand trial on April 24.

The 72-year-old Olalla man is alleged to have caused a chain of accidents that led to the death of a 32-year-old Vancouver man on the afternoon of July 3.

Penticton RCMP initially indicated Tamok was rear-ended in his Kia Sport Tec SUV at the Channel Parkway and Highway 97 intersection. He then allegedly accelerated away, having minor collisions with several other vehicles all within a half-kilometre stretch. RCMP alleged that Tamok was nearing Old Airport Road when he sideswiped a Jimmy, causing that driver to lose control.

The Jimmy careened into the opposing lane and overturned while airborne. The vehicle then landed on the front-end of a Toyota Tacoma that was pulling a travel trailer.

The Vancouver man driving the Jimmy was pronounced dead at the scene. Five occupants from the eight vehicles involved in the accident were treated for minor injuries.

Tamok faces charges of criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving causing death, causing bodily harm by criminal negligence, impaired driving causing bodily harm, causing an accident resulting in death and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. In September, Crown counsel stayed the original charges of dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.