Boarder likely never saw car that hit him: officer
Adam Pouget likely died never knowing what hit him. An Amherstburg police officer who investigated the Nov. 17, 2016, crash that killed Pouget testified Tuesday to the density of the fog on County Road 18 that morning. Const. Steve Owen said it’s unlikely Pouget, who was riding a skateboard in the westbound lane, nor Brandin Crosier, the driver of an eastbound 2011 Ford Focus who was passing another vehicle when he hit Pouget head on, took evasive action before impact.
“Due to the visibility, I believe there’s a chance that Mr. Pouget and Mr. Crosier never saw each other,” Owen said. Crosier, 24, is on trial charged with criminal negligence causing Pouget’s death. His trial has already heard he was late for work when the crash occurred, driving 112 km/ h on the rural road marked 80 km/ h.
Pouget, 30, was also travelling to work, headed to a job site for Tilbury Concrete. Owen said Pouget was skateboarding on the asphalt roadway, 1.36 metres from the gravel shoulder that edged the road.
The damage to the licence plate on Crosier’s Focus came from the impact with Pouget’s left leg, Owen testified. Other damage to the front bumper closer to the driver’s side came from the impact with his right leg.
This, said Owen, was confirmed with calculations that took into account the height of the skateboard’s deck and the thickness of the soles on the shoes Pouget was wearing. Owen said he attended Pouget’s autopsy which showed both of the man’s legs were broken below the kneecaps. Pouget’s body flew up over the hood, damaging the windshield on the driver’s side and the roof of the vehicle. The car kept going after the impact, coming to rest 110 metres farther down the road. Owen testified the car would have carried Pouget’s body part of that way. Owen said the visibility when he arrived at the scene was seven to eight car lengths. He said it’s likely Crosier never saw Pouget until there was “no chance to take evasive action.”
Crosier was passing in an area with a solid yellow line, the officer said.
Owen was the last prosecution witness to testify at Crosier’s trial. Crosier did not testify, nor were any other defence witnesses called. Defence lawyer Patrick Ducharme and assistant Crown attorney Walter Costa will make final arguments to Ontario court Justice Sharman Bondy Thursday.