MOUNTIE KILLED IN NEW BRUNSWICK
Decision to help motorist change a tire results in fatality
Struck by vehicle while helping motorist.
This wasn’t the first time Const. Frank Deschenes went beyond the call of duty.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Deschenes stopped his police cruiser on the Trans-Canada Highway near Memramcook, N.B. to help two people in a SUV change a tire. His decision had tragic consequences.
He and his vehicle were struck by a utility van and Deschenes died at the scene.
“We’re devastated,” said Nova Scotia RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke on Wednesday. “Frank was a well-loved member of every unit he worked with over the years.”
Deschenes put his life in jeopardy in an incident in June 2008, where he single-handedly prevented a potential train wreck near Brookfield. Using his police car, he was able to push a damaged, immobilized car off the train tracks just in time to avoid an oncoming train that was just minutes away.
Deschenes, 35, who was based in the RCMP’s Northwest Traffic Services in Amherst, was at the time of the incident serving under Sackville RCMP highway patrol unit. He was a former member of the force’s famed Musical Ride who got married this summer. He was also a tactical unit member and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The two people in the SUV were treated for injuries. Police say the van’s driver was taken into custody after being released from hospital. No charges had been laid as of early Wednesday evening.
RCMP Cpl. Jullie RogersMarsh couldn’t say why the Nova Scotia officer was in New Brunswick at the time of the accident, but did confirm that Deschenes was on duty and in uniform.
Rogers-Marsh said investigators would have to determine if everyone was in their vehicles at the time of the crash or standing by the vehicles.
She said it has been a difficult time for members of the force.
“It’s certainly very difficult when it’s one of your own coworkers or somebody that you might know. Our thoughts go out to the member’s family, friends and his co-workers,’’ she said.
Tim Nicholson, a retired RCMP officer, spent 21 years patrolling various Nova Scotia highways. The Halifax resident said he and the entire Nova Scotia police community are grief-stricken by the tragedy.
“I was shocked but not surprised,” said Nicholson. “It’s an extremely dangerous job and in a situation like that in the way that the traffic flows on those highways, it’s not a surprise.
“I’ve had close calls and you can feel the cars when you’re up at the window of someone else’s car and it almost feels like your pants or jacket are being pulled off from the draft.”
The eastbound lanes of the highway were closed for several hours while emergency crews attended the scene. The highway was reopened Wednesday morning.
“We’re devastated. Frank was a well-loved member of every unit he worked with over the years.”
RCMP spokeswoman
Cpl. Jennifer Clarke