By Kate Bouey

Car surfing death an accident, says coroner

Oct 28, 2019 | 2:39 PM

The BC Coroner’s Service says a Vernon man killed while car surfing on Tronson Road more than three years ago died of blunt force head trauma.

The death has been classified as accidental, according to a coroner’s report.

It states alcohol impairment was a contributing factor.

Justin Roger Martin, who was 27 at the time of the incident, had been out with friends when he decided to go car surfing.

On June 1, 2016, just after midnight, emergency personnel were called to the scene of the accident about 13 kilometres west of Vernon on Tronson Road.

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The coroner’s report states: “Investigation revealed that Mr. Martyn had been on the outside of a 2007 Dodge Caliber that was proceeding northbound on Tronson Road at the time of the incident. He was hanging onto the outside of the vehicle ‘car surfing’.”

The report states the car struck a curb and rolled, rolling over Martyn.

In January, the driver of the car, Byron James Walterhouse, was sentenced to nine months in jail and given a three-year driving prohibition after being found guilty of dangerous driving causing death.

by Kate Bouey

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