Crash happened in Casey's lane - OPP expert
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A deep gouge in the pavement and debris that flew from the wrecked vehicles show the head-on crash that killed Bryan Casey happened in his lane, an OPP collision investigator testified Wednesday.
Const. Shawn Kelly took the stand at Dr. Christy Natsis' trial on charges she killed Casey while driving drunk after the judge ruled he could testify despite defence objections he's biased.
Judge Neil Kozloff said he will decide later whether Kelly's evidence is admissible at the Pembroke dentist's trial.
The officer testified that when he went to the crash scene on Hwy. 17 near Arnprior almost two years ago, he found the deepest gouge in the pavement in the eastbound lane, which he believes was the area of "maximum engagement."
Casey's Dodge truck was heading east when he collided with Natsis' westbound Ford SUV. The 50-year-old died hours later of massive trauma.
Kelly said the deepest gouge, 2.6 m south of the centre line was likely caused by the undercarriage of Casey's truck, which buckled with the force of the impact that also sheared off his bumper and grille.
Crash debris was also concentrated in the eastbound lane, Kelly said, testifying that most of the twisted metal and shattered plastic would land in the area of impact.
"It indicates that the collision would have occurred somewhere in that eastbound lane close to the fog line," Kelly said.
He found no gouges in the westbound lane.
The officer worked all night after the crash mapping, measuring and photographing the scene and examining the wrecked vehicles.
The court had already heard that he concluded that Natsis crossed the centre line and that the crash was caused by the "action, inaction and/or condition" of the driver of the Ford Expedition.
Defence lawyer Michael Edelson grilled Kelly on the stand last week in a bid to block him from testifying as an expert witness. Edelson argued that Kelly's investigation was "tainted" from the start by a belief Natsis was guilty - a charge the 27-year veteran denied.
The cause of the crash is a key part of the Crown's case, which took a blow this week when Kozloff threw out breath samples that showed Natsis' blood-alcohol level was 2 1/2 times the legal limit to drive and finding another OPP officer violated her right to consult a lawyer.
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