Ontario Driver Found Guilty in Deadly Alberta Collision
A Calgary judge has delivered a verdict in a tragic case that claimed the life of a Drumheller father and left his daughter injured. Justice Janice Ashcroft of the Calgary Court of King's Bench convicted Augustin Henry, an Ontario man, on charges of dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm. The conviction stems from a devastating crash that occurred on January 5, 2020, resulting in the death of Daniel Bdzel and injuries to his daughter.
Judge Rejects Defence Claims About Intersection
During the trial, defence counsel Curtis Mennie argued that the intersection where the accident took place was highly problematic, suggesting it created reasonable doubt about whether Henry's actions constituted a marked departure from those of a reasonably prudent driver. However, Justice Ashcroft firmly rejected these arguments, emphasizing the presence of multiple warning devices and control signs at the intersection of Highway 564 and Highway 9, northeast of Calgary.
The judge noted that these warnings were placed a substantial distance from the intersection to alert drivers to the upcoming danger. Ashcroft stated that Henry was traveling at approximately 90 km/h when he ran a stop sign and crashed his rented SUV into Bdzel's northbound Ford Focus around 5:30 p.m. on that fateful day.
Evidence Points to Clear Negligence
In her ruling, Justice Ashcroft highlighted that a reasonable person would have foreseen the risk of dangerous collisions and taken note of the traffic signage to stop. She found no evidence that external factors such as blowing snow or poor lighting conditions contributed to the crash. While a patch of trees may have obstructed Henry's view of northbound traffic on Highway 9, the judge pointed out that he should have been able to see southbound traffic, which would have alerted him to the intersection.
Ashcroft concluded that Henry's manner of driving, viewed objectively, was dangerous to the public, posing significant risks of injury, collision, or death. She denied a request from Crown prosecutor Ron Simenik to revoke Henry's bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for a later date.
Impact on the Community
This case has drawn attention to road safety issues in the region, underscoring the consequences of negligent driving. The conviction serves as a somber reminder of the importance of adhering to traffic laws and heeding warning signs to prevent such tragedies. The Drumheller community continues to mourn the loss of Daniel Bdzel, while his daughter recovers from her injuries.
As the legal proceedings move toward sentencing, this ruling reinforces the judiciary's commitment to holding individuals accountable for actions that endanger public safety on Alberta's roads.
