'The collision was avoidable': Accident reconstructionist testifies in Chatham trial of Windsorite
Brett Iler has pleaded not guilty to six charges of careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act in a collision that killed two people and injured three others.
It happened on May 27, 2022, during the RetroFest classic car cruise along Queen’s Line, just outside of Chatham.
Court learned Thursday Iler wasn’t impaired, he wasn’t using his cellphone, the roads were bare and dry and the weather clear. He was driving seven kilometers per hour faster than the posted speed limit of 90 km/h.
“The collision was avoidable,” Accident Reconstructionist Constable Jason Herder told Justice of the Peace Kelly Jackson, inside the Provincial Offences court in Blenheim.
“This incident is the result of multiple motor vehicle collisions occurring within moments of one another," he said.
Const. Herder testified the 2013 Ford Escape driven by Iler that day was eastbound on Queen’s Line, near Dillon Road, when the vehicle veered 1.02 metres into the westbound lanes.
It struck the front side of a 1987 Chevy pickup truck; the driver lost control and came to rest on the grassy side of the road.
“The result of the damage sustained from the initial collision caused the Ford Escape to rotate counterclockwise,” Herder said.
The SUV’s front driver side tire “blew out” and the vehicle continued down Queen’s Line, driving on the rim, until it collided with the front of a 1950 Buick Sedan.
“That motor vehicle was past the point of no escape,” Const. Herder testified. “The Ford SUV ran up the driver’s side of the vehicle (Buick) and onto the roof of the vehicle (Buick).”
The force of the impact tore the Buick’s hood off and launched the SUV into the air, according to Const. Herder.
He believes were it not for the driver turning to the right immediately before impact with the SUV, the Buick would have been hit “head on”.
The driver of the Buick, Nigel Sedge, and the rear left passenger behind him, Jaimee Doyle, both died at the scene.
The middle rear passenger, Colin Chinnick, was “seriously injured” according to Const. Herder and airlifted to Windsor Regional Hospital.
The rear right passenger and front seat right passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Const. Herder said the Ford Escape SUV finally came to rest behind the Buick, landing on the passenger side door in the westbound lanes.
“For whatever reason, there was that lack of attention on the roadway, that due care of attention, that brought vehicle one, (Ford SUV) being operated by Iler, into the westbound lane,” Const. Herder concluded.
Iler remained at the scene, called 911 to report the accident, gave police a statement and cleared a field sobriety test by Chatham-Kent police. He was not injured in the accident, court learned.
The trial will continue Friday with cross-examination of Const. Herder by defence lawyer Alexandra Cardella.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump on Day 1: Begin deportation push, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and make his criminal cases vanish
Donald Trump has said he wouldn’t be a dictator — 'except for Day 1.' According to his own statements, he's got a lot to do on that first day in the White House.
King Charles III and Kate attend remembrance events as both slowly return to duty
King Charles III led the nation Sunday in a two-minute silence in remembrance of fallen service personnel in central London as the Princess of Wales looked on, a further sign the royal family is slowly returning to normal at the end of a year in which two of the most popular royals were sidelined by cancer.
Watch as Hurricane Rafael wind topples stadium lights
The outfield lights at a baseball stadium in Cuba proved to be little match for Hurricane Rafael’s extreme wind.
Cornwall, Ont. prepares for potential influx of asylum seekers following U.S. election
As the possibility of mass deportations looms following Donald Trump's re-election on Tuesday, border towns like the City of Cornwall are preparing for a potential influx of asylum seekers.
Mysterious black balls that washed up on Sydney beach were foul-smelling mini 'fatbergs'
The black balls – initially thought to be made of tar – were actually mini "fatbergs," made up of human feces, methamphetamine, human hair, fatty acids, and food waste, among hundreds of other vile and befuddling substances.
6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Cuba after hurricanes and blackouts
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling.
Sinclair family shares heartfelt message ahead of memorial service
Murray Sinclair’s family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.
Newfoundland man electrocuted by downed power line, two women injured
Police in Newfoundland say a man was electrocuted Saturday by a downed power wire about 10 kilometres north of St. John's, N.L.
Porsche recalls 300+ Canadian cars at risk of losing wheels
Select Porsche owners in Canada have been told to stop driving their cars immediately and to seek repairs after an issue was identified that could cause wheels to separate from vehicles.