Elderly woman on trial in roadside death of 8-year-old Girl Guide
A chaotic scene was described in a London, Ont. courtroom as the trial of a senior citizen charged in the roadside crash that killed a young girl got underway on Monday.
After the jury was selected, they heard how in a matter of seconds a Girl Guide outing on Nov. 30, 2021 turned deadly.
Const. Jennifer Hewerdine of the London Police Service was off duty as she drove home from work along Riverside Drive near Wonderland Road when she came upon the crash that injured seven people and killed an eight-year-old girl.
Hewerdine told the court, “I saw a bunch of people lying by the sidewalk...I saw a young girl laying on her back, she wasn’t moving.”
She added, “I checked and she wasn’t breathing so I started CPR.”
The girl would be rushed to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Investigators would charge Petronella McNorgan, 78, with one count of criminal negligence causing death and seven counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
In court she pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
In the Crown’s opening address, Artem Orlov told the jury that evidence would show that McNorgan’s Honda CRV reached speeds of more than 100 kilometres an hour before it struck a tree, light standard and the victims.
“When she enters the intersection the speed of her vehicle is in the range of 120 kilometres per hour,” he said.
As the Crown opened its case, a ban on publication was placed on identifying any of the young victims involved in the crash.
Outside the courthouse, McNorgan’s defence lawyer Phil Millar made their position clear.
“This was an accident. Ninety-seven percent of collisions on the road are accidents, driver error, and this is the exact same circumstance,” he said.
The trial is slated to last the next two weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
'Mayday!': New details emerge after Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Mirabel airport
New details suggest that there were communication issues between the pilots of a charter flight and the control tower at Montreal's Mirabel airport when a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
BREAKING Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of B.C. law on opioid health costs recovery
Canada's top court has affirmed the constitutionality of a law that would allow British Columbia to pursue a class-action lawsuit against opioid providers on behalf of other provinces, the territories and the federal government.
Cucumbers sold in Ontario, other provinces recalled over possible salmonella contamination
A U.S. company is recalling cucumbers sold in Ontario and other Canadian provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
Irregular sleep patterns may raise risk of heart attack and stroke, study suggests
Sleeping and waking up at different times is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who get the recommended amount of sleep, according to new research.
Real GDP per capita declines for 6th consecutive quarter, household savings rise
Statistics Canada says the economy grew at an annualized pace of one per cent during the third quarter, in line with economists' expectations.
Nick Cannon says he's seeking help for narcissistic personality disorder
Nick Cannon has spoken out about his recent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, saying 'I need help.'
California man who went missing for 25 years found after sister sees his picture in the news
It’s a Thanksgiving miracle for one California family after a man who went missing in 1999 was found 25 years later when his sister saw a photo of him in an online article, authorities said.
As Australia bans social media for children, Quebec is paying close attention
As Australia moves to ban social media for children under 16, Quebec is debating whether to follow suit.