Jury sees video as truck slams into antique car
U.K. trial hears trucker was on cellphone just before Calgary oilman killed in 2019
The horrific moment a trucker fatally plowed into Calgary philanthropist Ronald Carey's car during a popular London to Brighton vintage car rally was played for a British jury Wednesday.
Blurry CCTV footage captured from the truck driven by Michael Black showed how he had turned in a service area before rejoining the outside lane of a major motorway about 50 kilometres south of London.
The jury watched in silence as they saw the truck accelerate into the third lane of the M23 moments before the crash on Nov. 3, 2019.
Prosecutor Scott Brady then showed the jury footage of the 1903 Knox car driven by Carey travelling slowly in the third lane of the M23.
Jurors watched as the orange-coloured truck smashed into the back of the tiny open-top car, with Black only appearing to notice Carey and wife Billi seconds before.
Analyzing the video footage, police Const. Joanna Robins said: “When I reviewed the footage, the Knox car was first seen at 10:01:54 seconds and then from 10:01:57 it was in vision for the whole time.
“The collision occurs just before 10:02:08, it was potentially in view for 14 seconds.”
Earlier, court heard Carey had just taken a wrong turn in the 1903 Knox Runabout Old Porcupine classic car and unintentionally entered the M23, a bustling freeway.
“They were in the third lane and ahead of Black. He was directly behind them,” said Brady. “He ran into the back of the Knox veteran car and, tragically, in this case, Mr. Carey was killed in the collision. His wife was badly injured.”
Black has pleaded not guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving and another of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
“If Black had been keeping a good lookout, this accident would not have occurred,” the prosecutor told jurors.
“He said he wasn't keeping a good lookout because he was distracted by a phone call he was trying to make to a friend. He was certainly making a phone call at the time of the collision and he admitted as much in a police interview.”
On Wednesday, the jury was played the harrowing call Black made to emergency services soon after the crash. Black, 52, was seen walking backward and forward to the mangled wreckage of the Knox as he spoke on the phone.
Black can be heard repeating: “I never saw them, I never saw them.”
As he watched the footage in court Wednesday, Black closed his eyes and let out an audible sigh.
Robins told court her investigation revealed Carey's vintage car was almost completely destroyed in the incident. The car's seats were totally detached.
Carey, 80, made his fortune after founding oil supply company J&L Supply. He had been a vintage car enthusiast since the 1980s and had contributed to museums and collections around the world, including his personal collection, which was worth an estimated $6.2 million.
Carey donated his massive antique car, truck and gas pump collection to Heritage Park, leading to construction of the Gasoline Alley exhibit. He also contributed financially to local organizations, including the Alberta Children's Hospital and STARS air ambulance.
The couple had specially shipped the Knox car to the U.K. to take part in the race and the jury was shown a picture of the pair on the day of the rally, wrapped up in warm clothes as they began the iconic run to Brighton.
Carey's widow listened throughout the hearing on a remote link from Arizona.
Robins said the Knox car, while capable of at least 43 km/h, was travelling around 34 km/h. Vehicles must be able to achieve 40 km/h to travel on the motorway.
She said Black's truck, travelling 85 to 88 km/h, had a closing speed of 52 km/h.
“A 35-miles-per-hour (52 km/ h) closing speed would be hair-raising but most people would be able to avoid a crash,” she said.
“Most people react with a combination of swerving and moving around an object, braking or a combination of both.”
Robins, in response to Brady's questioning, told court she believed Black only reacted about five seconds before hitting Carey's car.
The trial continues.