Trial underway for man accused in crossing guard’s death

In the trial for the death of an Ottawa crossing guard, a judge will decide whether a teenager’s driving was dangerous. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

The trial of a 19-year-old man accused in the hit-and-run death of a crossing guard in Barrhaven in March is now underway.

Xzander Wright has pleaded not guilty to dangerous operation causing death.

Peter Clark, 55, was struck and killed while helping children cross the intersection of Cedarview Road and Kennevale Drive on March 23. He was wearing a reflective safety vest holding a small stop sign when he was hit.

Wright pleaded guilty in April to failing to stop after an accident.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Wright returned to the scene less than a minute later and “went to observe Mr. Clark.”

“The accused left the scene of this fatal collision without providing assistance to Mr. Clark or providing his name or address,” the document stated.

Wright will be sentenced on that count at the conclusion of this trial.

Wright’s lawyer Lawrence Greenspon admits his client was behind the wheel of the Toyota Tundra but the judge at the dangerous operation trial will have to determine whether his pattern of driving meets the legal threshold to be considered dangerous.

An Ottawa police collision reconstructionist was cross-examined by Greenspon on Wednesday.

Const. Josée Provençal testified there was no reenactment of the crash and officers did not study the potential impact of sunlight coming through the driver’s side window that was rolled down or measure the truck’s blind spots. Court previously heard the tint on the truck’s windows was “extreme” at 6 per cent but because the window wasn’t up, it wasn’t capable of blocking sunlight coming in that way, Greenspon said.

Greenspon suggested A-pillars, located on either side of the windshield and connecting the roof to the body of the vehicle, can obstruct the driver’s view.

Provençal testified she didn’t mention A-pillar obstructions in her report because she didn’t believe it was a factor based on where Clark was standing.

“He’s in front of the vehicle, the A-pillar is not an issue, he’s in front,” Provençal said of Clark.

Greenspon suggested Clark could’ve remained continuously obscured while Wright was turning but Provençal didn’t agree.

“But you never tested it out,” Greenspon replied.

“No,” she said.

Provençal agreed with Greenspon that there was no evidence of sudden acceleration, improper braking or abrupt steering.

On Wednesday, Coun. David Hill announced a motion would be coming to city council seeking to rename Cobble Hill Park to Crossing Guard Park in honour of Clark.

The defence is expected to open its case on Thursday.

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