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WL man dies at correctional facility in PG

The regional coroner is investigating the death of a young man who collapsed while being processed at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre Sept. 21.

The regional coroner is investigating the death of a young man who collapsed while being processed at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre Sept. 21.

The B.C. Coroner Service acting regional coroner for the northern region Donita Kuzma confirmed that 19-year-old Blaine Sargent of Williams Lake collapsed at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre. He was transported to the University Hospital of Northern B.C. where he died.

Kuzma said the death is an “open and ongoing” B.C. Coroners Service investigation

Regional coroner Shane DeMeyer said that the death is being treated as an “in custody death,” meaning there are protocols that must be followed. An autopsy will be performed in Kamloops and toxicology testing will also be done, a procedure which takes between four and six weeks before results will be ready.

“There will be no definitive answer until that point,” he said. Part of the protocol includes a joint critical incident investigation with B.C. Corrections and Court Services Branch ,according to a release from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

The Coroners Service has also undertaken an independent investigation into the circumstances of the death.