The highway date rate for Natives in British Columbia is nine times higher than the general population, the head of a safety organization said on Thursday.

Tanner Elton of the B.C. Forest Safety Council said the accident and death rates for Native people are "alarming." He said road accidents are leading cause of unintentional death among First Nations.

The figures are being discussed at a road safety conference. The only means of access for 25 First Nations are through logging roads that are used by logging trucks and heavy equipment.

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'Alarming' highway death rates for B.C. First Nations (CBC 10/12)