Man charged with impaired driving causing death

A 56-year-old Cornwall man is facing charges that include impaired driving causing death in connection with a fatal collision in Eldon in March.

Those charges stemmed from a fatal collision on March 5 that killed 36-year-old Melissa Ann Palmer.

On Wednesday, Kings District RCMP charged Stephen Michael Quinn with impaired driving causing death while his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit and impaired driving causing death.

Quinn was allegedly driving a MacInnis Express van on Route 1 in Eldon when it collided with the car Palmer was driving.

Palmer was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after the collision but was later transported to Halifax where she died of her injuries.

Quinn was also taken to hospital for treatment.

The Guardian contacted MacInnis Express but Thane Nunn, who is listed as the owner on the company’s website, said he did not want to comment.

With several months between the collision and the charges, Sgt. Chris Gunn said the RCMP wanted to ensure it did its due diligence, collected all the evidence and consulted with the Crown.

“Some of that evidence, of course, takes analysis and takes time,” Gunn said.

Quinn is scheduled to appear in provincial court in Charlottetown on Aug. 6.