A man accused of killing three people in a car crash near Pemberton in May pleaded guilty on Tuesday to an unrelated driving charge stemming from an incident in Kamloops.
Samuel Alec appeared briefly in Kamloops provincial court to enter a guilty plea to one count of operating a motor vehicle while disqualified.
The circumstances of the Kamloops offence have not yet been made public. They are expected to come out at a sentencing hearing, which is slated to take place in May.
The 43-year-old has been in custody since August, when he was arrested and charged with criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident in connection to the crash in Pemberton.
He is alleged to have been behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Cavalier that plowed into a group of three cyclists on Duffy Lake Road on May 31.
Two of the cyclists — Kelly Blunden and Ross Chafe — were killed, as was the passenger in the car, Paul Maurice Pierre.
In addition to the criminal charges stemming from the Pemberton fatalities, Alec is also being sued by the widow of Chafe.
In September, Lizanne Bussieres filed a statement of claim in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging Samuel Alec was negligent and drove the car while intoxicated or impaired.
She also alleges the vehicle’s owner, Carmen Ned, knew Alec was impaired and allowed him to use the car, which was not properly maintained.
The allegations have yet to be tested in court and neither Alec nor Ned have filed statements of defence.
Bussieres filed the action under the Family Compensation Act for the benefit of herself and Chafe’s three children, who are 17, 15 and 11 years old.
Bussieres said she and her children are seeking relief for the loss of guidance, support, household assistance and inheritance.
She is also seeking special damages for funeral and memorial services.
— with files from The Canadian Press
