An Amherstburg man was found not guilty of impaired driving causing death and bodily harm after a New Year’s Eve crash in 2011.
Cole Rickett, 30, was handed a $2,000 fine with a 15 per cent surcharge and an 18-month ban on driving. He received no jail time and no probation.
Rickett was found guilty of impaired driving.
Justice Bruce Thomas delivered the decision in a Windsor court Friday morning.
Rickett was facing 10 charges after his pickup truck collided with an SUV at Walker Road and South Talbot Road in the afternoon of Dec. 31, 2011.
Carolyn Dutta, 44, from Ann Arbor, Mich., died as a result of her injuries.
In court, Thomas said even if Rickett had reacted, the collision still would have happened with the same result.
The court heard testimony that Rickett had been drinking in the hours before the crash.
But police testified the Dutta vehicle crossed into Rickett's path on Walker Road.
Dutta's family releases statement
The family of Dutta has released a statement thanking Windsor residents for their support:
"We convey our most heartfelt gratitude to our neighbors in the Windsor community for their support, prayers and expressions of sympathy as we continue to heal from our loss.
"To all those who helped in the effort to save Carolyn’s life, and on her own behalf to all those who assisted with saving and treating her children, we express our most sincere appreciation – especially to the Ontario Provincial Police, emergency medical and hospital personnel, and to so many unnamed who cared so much about the precious life of someone we loved so dearly."
