BC man drives hundreds of kilometres after wife dies in car

[oneh2obabe]

The Associated Press | The Canadian Press

TONASKET, Wash. - U.S. authorities say a British Columbia man drove about 360 kilometres towards Canada after his 75-year-old wife died in the car next to him, uncertain whether he could cross the border with her.

Police Chief Robert Burks, in Tonasket, Wash., says the 71-year-old Oliver man didn't know what to do, so he kept driving.

The man and his wife were driving home from their vacation in Oregon on Sunday when she began suffering a medical condition and died near Pasco, Wash.

The Wenatchee World reports the man called the vehicle emergency system, OnStar, which put him in touch with dispatchers in Okanogan County.

A dispatcher convinced the man to stop at a police station, about 32 kilometres south of the border.

Burks says the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, and police determined the death wasn't suspicious.

[Queen K]

This is the saddest story I've read in a long time.

[grammafreddy]

Poor fella. I can understand the feeling of not knowing what to do under the circumstances.

[barnstorm55]

Such a sad story. I can just feel the old gents fear and confusion. He's just lost the love of his life and doesn't know where to turn.

[Snarf]

A very sad story just before Christmas...

[TyrianQuill]

I can assure you that “that scenario” has happened before and will happen again; and I can also assure you that what he went through and will go through afterwards is worse ... than you can imagine.
My heart goes out to him ♥

[twobits]

Wishin I could give the guy a hug. I really hope the authorities In Washinton State handled this in a compassionate manner and not as a potential crime scene first.