Street racing charges laid in July's fatal two-vehicle crash near the New Harbour Barrens

The RCMP have arrested and charged Brian Robert King and Steven Ryan Mercer with street racing causing death.

The charges stem from July's fatal highway crash that killed Hannah Thorne of New Harbour.

Sergeant Richard Marshall of the Bay Roberts RCMP said King and Mercer were travelling in separate vehicles.

Street racing causing death is a rare and serious offence, Marshall said.

"I've worked in the Trinity-Conception area for over 4 years," he said.

"This is the first encounter that I've experienced."

King is a 30-year-old Bay Roberts resident and Mercer, 29, is from Upper Island Cove.

They were arrested Saturday and charged on Sunday.

"We believe that we've developed grounds to charge them for street racing causing death and street racing causing bodily harm, criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle causing death, criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm as well as separate breaches of probation for each of them."

​Thorne, 18, was in a car driven by her 81-year-old grandmother when it collided head-on with a pickup truck on a stretch of highway known as the New Harbour Barrens.

Thorne's grandmother received leg injuries and is recovering from the accident. The charges regarding bodily harm refer to her injuries.

Marshall said the investigation is still ongoing and is asking for assistance from the public.

He said due to the seriousness of this case, no piece of information is too small or insignificant.

"With such detailed investigations we need to ensure it's proper, it's thorough and it's meticulous," Marshall said.

"So it takes time to do [it] properly. Rather than simply quickly."

Both King and Mercer are in custody and are scheduled to appear in Harbour Grace Provincial Court Monday afternoon.