Charges of dangerous and impaired driving causing death have been laid against a man, in connection to a fatal collision along the Nanaimo Parkway in August 2024. (submitted photo/Bradley Bullock)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

fatal collision

Dangerous & impaired driving charges laid in fatal Nanaimo Parkway crash

Jun 20, 2025 | 10:00 AM

NANAIMO — A pair of charges have been approved against a man involved in a fatal collision along the Nanaimo Parkway last year.

Samuel Brody Taylor, 47, faces one count of dangerous operation causing death, and one count of impaired operation causing death, connected to an Aug. 10, 2024, crash along the Parkway near the Dunster Rd. overpass.

Police said a southbound vehicle, allegedly driven by Taylor, crossed the grassy median just after 8:30 p.m. and crashed into a northbound SUV driven by 42-year-old Joy Pecknold, a journalist, editor and freelance writer living in Port Alberni.

“The family has been engaged with the investigators since day one, and they’ve been involved with this process,” Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said. “They have asked for the name of their deceased family member be released to the public, they feel this is necessary for the healing process.”

The crash resulted in a fire which engulfed at least one of the vehicles and shut down traffic on the Parkway for most of the night, reopening early the next morning.

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As part of their investigation, Nanaimo RCMP officers re-closed the highway for two hours, roughly two weeks after the incident, to collect further information and evidence.

Charges were sworn in and a warrant was issued for Taylor’s arrest on Monday, June 16, with officers arresting him without incident the following day.

He was released on a promise to appear in court, with his next scheduled appearance coming Tuesday, June 24, in Nanaimo.

Taylor’s only prior court record stems from a May 2015 Motor Vehicle Act infraction for driving without a driver’s license in Burns Lake, B.C.

O’Brien confirmed Taylor is not a resident of Nanaimo, but does live in a “neighbouring” central Island community.

The incident came less than two weeks before Pecknold’s 43rd birthday.

Her obituary describes her as “a light to all who crossed her path”, a lover of the outdoors and nature and a “thoughtful journalist, editor and creative writer”.

Pecknold enjoyed a successful 20-plus-year career in Vancouver before recently returning to Vancouver Island.

Joy Pecknold was killed in an August 2024 motor vehicle incident on the Nanaimo Parkway. (submitted photo)

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