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Nanaimo man charged after 2015 crash that killed woman

Nov 18, 2016 | 12:44 PM

NANAIMO — Serious charges have been laid against a Nanaimo man accused of dangerous driving in a November 2015 crash that killed a woman.

Nanaimo Mounties say a year-long investigation began after the accident on Yellow Point Road, near Cedar Road. Following witness interviews, a traffic analyst report and collection of forensic and physical evidence, a warrant was issued earlier this month for the arrest of 40-year-old Dustin Dennis Zinter.

“On Nov. 2, Mr. Zinter was located and arrested in Nanaimo on the outstanding warrants,” said RCMP Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong. “He had been found to be operating a motor vehicle and was believed to be impaired by alcohol. He again refused to provide a breath sample.”

Nanaimo RCMP said at the time two pick-ups collided around 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2015. 51-year-old Heidi Barbara Plato died shortly after the crash. The driver of the other pick-up, who police say was Zinter, took off. Police say he was found about an hour later, not far from the where the crash happened. Zinter refused to provide a breath sample and was arrested that night, according to police.