Lakeshore father involved in van-train crash stands trial
The trial of a Lakeshore father involved in a collision with a train that killed two of his children began Monday.
Andrew Williams pleaded not guilty to several charges, including criminal negligence causing death, for his role in a 2012 crash that killed two of his children and injured two others.
Williams was driving a minivan and crossing the train tracks on Strong Road just north of County Road 42 in Lakeshore.
His daughters, aged 7 and 4, were killed in the crash. His son, 5, was critically injured, while his youngest daughter, who was 18 months, suffered minor injuries.
Ontario Provincial Police charged Williams with several charges:
Two counts of criminal negligence causing death.
Two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.
Two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm
Court heard testimony from the engineer James Hamilton who is now retired.
Video of the collision was recorded on a camera onboard the train, which Hamilton testified he watched along with the CP trainmaster after the collision.
But he watched it before talking to CP Rail police.
He admitted that he was not supposed to do that, but he denied suggestions from defense lawyer Laura Joy, that he did it because he believed he did something wrong
The trial before judge Kirk Munroe is expected to take four weeks.
