Nanaimo man fined $1,500 for causing collision that killed retired police sergeant

A Nanaimo, B.C., man found guilty of careless drivingin the head-on collision that killed well known police sergeant Shinder Kirk has been fined $1,500 in provincial court.

Kirk was driving with his wife and another passengeron Nanaimo's Cedar Road onDec. 22, 2018, when a vehicle driven byConrad Wettencrossed the centre line. Kirk died at the scene and the two injured passengerswere flown to hospital.

Kirk formerly heldpositions as spokesperson for the Abbotsford Police Department, theCombined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. and the Vancouver-based Integrated Gang Task Force.

Wetten, 25,was found guilty of driving without due care and attention under the Motor Vehicle Act on June 23.

In delivering the sentencing decision Friday morning,Judge K. L. Whonnocknoted the tragic outcomebut said the incident was "a very brief moment in time" and that she "was not sentencing [Wetten] for causing Mr. Kirk's death."

Whonnock said testimony supported thatWetten was not impaired, was not distracted by a cell phone and was not speeding or driving recklessly in the moments leading up to the crash.

Wettenwas not handed a driving prohibition, said Whonnock,because hedepends on his driver's licence for employment andthe purpose of the Motor Vehicle Act is to ensure safety, not impose punitive measures.

Widow Wendy Kirk was one of five people who provided victim impact statements.

Kirk said her life was shattered by the crash, and that the severe injuries she suffered cause herdaily pain.

A civil lawsuit filed by Kirkalleges that Wettencrossed the centre line and caused the collision. Sheis seekingcompensation for the physical injuries and psychological trauma suffered.