An Abbotsford man who has twice been charged in relation to fatal collisions recently had an alcohol-related charge downgraded.
Kerry Froese was charged in November with refusing to comply with the demand for a breath sample, but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of driving without due care and attention.
He was sentenced June 2 in Abbotsford provincial court to a $1,000 fine.
Sgt. Paul Walker, media officer with the Abbotsford Police Department (APD), said Froese’s latest charge arose after he was seen by traffic officers leaving a liquor store on Nov. 7.
“Following the observation of multiple Motor Vehicle Act violations, officers conducted a traffic stop to assess the driver’s sobriety,” he said.
“Based on the officers’ observations and belief that Mr. Froese was impaired by alcohol, a lawful demand was made for a breath sample. Mr. Froese refused to comply with this demand, and was subsequently arrested.”
Walker said although the court outcome was not expected, he said the APD “remains steadfast” in addressing impaired driving.
“Our focus continues to be on identifying and targeting repeat offenders who endanger our lives on our roadways,” he said.
Froese, a chicken farmer, pleaded guilty in 2011 to driving without due care and attention in the death of Trevor Dueck, 19, and was given a six-month driving prohibition.
Dueck had been riding his dirt bike south on the grassy shoulder of the 1000 block of Gladwin Road on Feb. 24, 2008, when he slammed into the passenger side of Froese’s 2006 Ford F-350.
Froese was turning into a driveway at the time. The teen died on scene.
Froese was initially charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and impaired driving, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
Froese was again in the news in 2016 after he was charged with failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death.
Ronald James Scott, 61, was killed on Jan. 29, 2015 after he was struck by a vehicle as he was riding his bicycle southbound in the 2000 block of Mt. Lehman Road.
The driver fled the scene and, two weeks after the crash, the APD announced that debris found at the scene was believed to belong to a Ford F-150 pickup truck from the years 2012 to 2014.
Police continued to investigate, and in June 2015 they announced they had found the suspect vehicle – a grey 2013 Ford Expedition – on a property in the 28600 block of Huntingdon Road.
Police announced in June 2016 that Froese had been charged in relation to the fatal collision.
Froese was the general manager of the company that owned the vehicle and was the Expedition’s principal owner on insurance documents. The company that owned the SUV was owned by Froese’s parents.
The trial centred on whether Froese was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. Froese was acquitted in March 2020.
Froese was also in the news for being named the recipient of the 2015 BC and Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
