Court told of efforts to save crash victim’s life
As grieving relatives wiped away tears and consoled each other, a Calgary paramedic described the futile attempts by emergency personnel to save a city woman’s life.
Stephen Winter testified about the horrific crash scene he and fellow medical staff responded to in a southeast Calgary parking lot.
Winter told Crown prosecutor Andrew Barg he arrived at the scene of the Aug. 2, 2017, crash at 12:23 p.m.
“We were informed this was a motor-vehicle collision involving two vehicles and that somebody might be trapped,” Winter said.
Winter said the first person he encountered was the driver of a pickup truck, which had collided with a smaller car at 128th Avenue and 46th Street S.E.
“I asked if he was injured ... I said ‘are you OK?’ and he said ‘I’m fine,’ so I continued on to the car,” said Winter, of his initial encounter with James Robert Farkas.
Farkas faces two charges of criminal negligence causing death in the crash, which killed siblings Rashmi, 24, and Ritvik Bale, 20.
Winter said he couldn’t access the driver’s side of the Bale car because Farkas’ pickup was lodged against it. When he got to the passenger side, he found a female in the passenger seat and a male behind the wheel.
“I didn’t see any breathing (from either),” he said. “I determined the male person who wasn’t breathing and had no pulse was (dead).”
With the assistance of a firefighter, Winter concentrated on extracting Rashmi Bale, who wasn’t breathing, but had a pulse.
“She did have agonal respiration, which is reflexive breathing, which can just be a function of the brain stem,” he said.
Winter said despite the risks involved, it was determined they needed to remove the woman as quickly as possible.
“It’s called rapid extrication ... it’s a life over limb thing,” he said.
“There’s just no time to spare, or they will die.”
Winter said they were able to get the unconscious woman onto a spinal board and then onto a stretcher before getting her into an ambulance.
Meanwhile, court heard evidence Farkas had been at the bank shortly before the crash, but despite a major error by staff on his account, which caused him to remain there for about 90 minutes, he remained calm and courteous.
Defence counsel Curtis Mennie said Farkas will testify Thursday.