U.S. driver won't face Criminal Code charges in Nova Scotia Mountie's death

A Pennsylvania manwas charged Thursday with two Motor Vehicle Act offences in the death of a Nova Scotia RCMP officer who was providing roadside help in eastern New Brunswick when a utility van collided with his cruiser.

RCMPsaid there was not enough evidence to chargeVasiliyMeshko, 31, ofWilkes-Barrewith offences under the Criminal Code.

Const. Francis (Frank)Deschenes, a northern New Brunswick native, died at the scene on Highway 2 nearMemramcook after he pulled over on Sept. 12 to help two people in anSUVchange a tire.

• Nova Scotia Mountie killed after stopping to provide roadside help
• Mountie killed helping motorists near Memramcook had history of going 'the extra mile'
• RCMP cruiser involved in fatal highway accident near Memramcook, N.B.

Meshko was represented by his lawyerin Monctonprovincial court, where he was charged withdriving without due care and attention and failing to move over.

The defence requested an adjournment to Friday, whenMeshkois toenter a plea.

In a news release, Southeast District RCMP said they completed their investigation into the crash.

Failing to respect move-over law

Deschenes, a 12-year veteran who worked for the national police force in Amherst, was on duty with traffic servicesat the time of the crash, RCMPsaid.

He wasin uniform and in a marked police vehicle.

Accident scene on Highway 2 near Memramcook

7 years ago

Duration 0:56

Highway 2 near Memramcook, N.B. has been closed as RCMP and other emergency responders continue to work at the scene of a collision.

In 2013, New Brunswickpassedthe "move over" law, whichrequires drivers to slow down and, where possible, move into the left lane when emergency vehicles are pulled off the road with their lights flashing.

Video gathered at the scene showed a van and an SUV, but theRCMPcruiser appeared to bear the brunt of the impact.