Roadwork not a factor in 2011 crash, Natsis trial hears

An OPP crash investigator said roadwork on Highway 17 did not play a significant role in the March 2011 crash that killed Bryan Casey, an Ottawa court head Monday.

Const. Jeff Hewitt, who reconstructs collisions for the OPP, wrote a report on the Mar. 31, 2011 fatal crash between Casey's truck and Pembroke dentist Christy Natsis's SUV.

Casey, a father of three, died in the collision, and Natsis was charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit. She has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

In his twelfth day of testimony at Natsis's trial, Hewitt was cross-examined over why his report failed to mention that the section of Highway 17 near where the crash happened was under construction.

Crash happened near former intersection

The stretch of road, about 75 metres east of the impact site, had previously been an intersection with a traffic light, but was being replaced with an overpass.

Defence lawyer Vincent Clifford pointed to photographs showing the westbound lane Natsis was in had blurred white lines at the shoulder of the road.

Clifford added part of the road near the shoulder had been dug out and filled with gravel and uneven asphalt. There was also construction fencing leading to a steep ditch.

Hewitt said he didn't mention the road's condition because he did not believe it was a factor in the collision.

"It was a very wide paved shoulder that was clearly marked and it was fine for cars to travel on," said Hewitt.

Hewitt had earlier told the court he concluded the collision occurred in the eastbound lane — the direction Casey's truck was travelling — based on the final rest of both vehicles and the gouge and scrape marks on the road.

Evidence revealed earlier in the trial showed Casey was impaired at the time of the crash. Blood alcohol evidence showing Natsis was also impaired was ruled inadmissible.