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Guilty plea offered by tanker driver

Nanaimo man pleaded guilty to two charges in the Western Communities Courthouse on Thursday.

A Nanaimo man pleaded guilty to two charges in the Western Communities Courthouse on Thursday related to last year’s fuel truck crash outside Goldstream Park.

James Charles Allen Smith pleaded guilty to one regulatory charge under the Fisheries Act for depositing gasoline and diesel into water frequented by fish.

On his criminal charges, Smith pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

He was originally charged with four other counts (two criminal, two environmental) which will be stayed following sentencing.

Neither Smith nor his lawyer, Dale Marshall, would comment outside the courthouse, with Marshall saying he will wait until sentencing, likely in September, before making a statement.

The case is due back in court on Aug. 28 for a pre-sentencing report.