Mountie fined $1,500 in traffic deaths

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 18 (UPI) -- A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who killed two people when her cruiser smashed into their car has been fined $1,500, officials said.

Constable Petina Kostiuk Thursday apologized to the families of the two men at her sentencing hearing in Vancouver's Provincial Court, the Vancouver Sun reported.

"To all of you, I say that I'm deeply sorry -- my heart goes out to you," Kostiuk said. "May you try to heal … and learn to cope with this awful, horrible tragedy."

Kostiuk was en route to a 911 call about 2 a.m. when the October 2007 accident occurred. She was driving a marked police car with lights and siren activated when she went through a red light at about 60 mph, hitting the victim's car.

Killed in the accident were Albert Haczewski, 27, and his life-long friend, Koyo Walter Hara, 26.

Kostiuk now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has been unable to return to work since the accident.

The accident caused police to change the policy on high-speed runs. Officers are now required to stop at a red light before entering an intersection.