Deadly race described
Court hears facts about events leading up to Hannah Thorne’s death
On July 7, 2016, a motorist witnessed two vehicles drag racing after they passed him on the New Harbour Barrens.
A short while later, the same motorist came across the scene of a serious collision involving one of those vehicles — a burgundy Ford F-150 King Ranch truck.
The truck’s driver — Brian Robert King — could be heard saying, “She is dead. My life is f---ed.”
Hannah Elizabeth Thorne, an 18-year-old from New Harbour, died in a head-on collision with the vehicle King was driving that day.
The 32-year-old Bay Roberts man entered guilty pleas last week to criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
On Thursday, he was back in court for a reading of the agreed statement of facts.
Those present in provincial court in Harbour Grace on Thursday, including friends and family of Thorne, heard in detail the events leading up to the crash. The chief medical examiner determined Thorne died from multiple head injuries.
A data recorder in the truck King was driving indicated it was travelling 130 km/h approximately five seconds before the collision.
The vehicle would have hit Thorne and her grandmother’s car at a minimum speed of 94 km/h.
After police put out a call to the public asking for witnesses, multiple people came forward with stories to share about the two vehicles engaged in the race — King’s truck and a blue Chevrolet Cobalt driven by co-accused Steven Ryan Mercer of Upper Island Cove.
Mercer has pleaded not guilty and recently re-elected to have his trial heard in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
One driver spotted the two vehicles near Green’s Harbour, approximately 9 1/2 kilometres from the collision site, and said they were moving very fast. Another witness saw the Cobalt pass the truck in an unsafe manner.
A driver passed by the Ford F-150 on the New Harbour Barrens who admitted to driving above the posted speed limit of 80 km/h estimated the truck was travelling at 160 km/h.
Thorne’s grandmother, Gertie Thorne, was the driver of the Accent. She sustained multiple injuries and required surgery on a leg. She remained in hospital for just over two months.
According to the facts, King was an uninsured driver at the time of the accident and was bound by a probation order. He is currently not in custody.
Crown prosecutor Richard Deveau said eight victim impact statements would be submitted in relation to the case.
A request has also been made for a pre-sentencing report. A full-day hearing where Crown and defence lawyers will make arguments for sentencing will be held Nov. 20 in Harbour Grace.