Only 2 seatbelts in farm van: RCMP

The van that was carrying 17 people when it rolled over on Highway 1 nearAbbotsford last week had only two seatbelts, RCMP investigating the fatal crash said Thursday.

Three farm workers died as a result of the accident,and 14 other people in the van were injured. Eight of them remain are in critical condition in hospital.

Some of the passengers were thrown from the van, which was designed for 10 people.

The RCMP said the investigation found only the driver and front passenger seat were equipped with seatbelts.

Const. Dave Babineau also said the upholstery had been removed from the standard equipment bench seats, leaving bare wood.

The vanwas lastinspected in February and police investigators say it should not have passed.

Both the police and the Transportation Ministry are investigating.The minister, KevinFalcon,said the full force of government will come down on the inspection facilityif it passed the van without adequate seatbelts.

RCMPare also appealing for witnesses to the fatal crash to contact them.

Earlier this week, an inquest was ordered because of the safety issues involved in the deaths of the three women.

Faced with criticism that it has not done enough to regulate farm contractors in recent years, the provincial government has also ordered stepped-up inspections of vans carrying farm workers.