Fort St. James girl killed

A 17-year-old Fort St. James girl is dead after a collision between the car she was riding in and a tanker truck loaded with sodium hydroxide on Highway 97 just north of Hixon, Tuesday.
Christina Rose Verde was pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from the car following the collision. Physical evidence found by police show she was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.
Fraser Fort George RCMP were called to the crash near Widdis Road at 9:30 a.m.
When they arrived, they discovered a southbound 2006 Chevrolet PT Cruiser and a northbound 2007 Kenworth tractor trailer unit had collided.
The PT Cruiser had rotated away from the impact and stopped in the southbound ditch on its wheels. The tractor-trailer spun 180 degrees following the collision and rolled off the highway onto its roof in the southbound ditch.
The driver of the PT Cruiser, Dawn Marie Agno, 34, of Fort St. James suffered minor injuries and was taken to Prince George Regional Hospital where she was kept overnight for observation.
The truck driver, Ronald J. Bell, 54, of Scarborough, Ont. wasn’t injured in the crash.
The tanker trailer was intact and no sodium hydroxide was leaked. However, police contained and evacuated the scene until it was determined safe for emergency personnel to approach.
Weather conditions at the time of the crash were overcast with light snow. Police found the road conditions in the area of the crash where very icy.
Police closed the highway until 3:30 p.m. while investigators gathered evidence at the scene. Traffic then resumed in one alternating lane until Wednesday morning.
HAZMAT teams from Environment Canada and Quantum Industries worked through the night to drain the sodium hydroxide from the tanker.
Once the tank was empty, a tow truck was used to extract the vehicles from the ditch.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation. RCMP have begun examining both vehicles for any sign of mechanical malfunctions and are speaking to witnesses and the drivers. Anyone who saw the crash or has information for police should call the Fraser Fort George Traffic Service Unit at 250-649-4004.