Third candidate Kathleen Higgins joins by-election race
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Fresh from the farm
Nugget potatoes are first local crop of season
7
Angry guest
Skirmish at motel over no refund policy
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Optimist Delta
Fantastic trio
Art around town
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Top junior athletes win Kiwanis Sports Award
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Car speeding prior to fatal crash: expert
Too afraid to look!
Engineer says Carol Berner’s Oldsmobile reached 91 km/h along 64th Street BY
JESSICA KERR
jkerr@delta-optimist.com
Carol Berner was driving at almost twice the posted speed limit in the seconds before the 2008 crash that killed little Alexa Middelaer, court heard this week. The speed limit on the stretch of 64th Street where the collision occurred is 50 km/ h. Professional engineer and crash reconstructionist Steve MacInnis testified Thursday that Berner’s car was travelling at 91 km/h in the five seconds preceding the collision. Berner is on trial in Surrey Provincial Court charged with dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired driving causing death and impaired driving caus-
ing bodily harm. Berner was driving the car that hit the four-year-old and her aunt, Daphne Johanson, on May 17, 2008. Alexa was fatally wounded and died later at B.C. Children’s Hospital. Johanson suffered serious injuries. Berner admitted she was driving the car at the time of the crash but has pleaded not guilty to the specific charges. Thursday’s testimony wrapped up the Crown’s case and the third week of the trial. It is scheduled to take another week. MacInnis told the court Berner’s Oldsmobile Intrigue was heading north along 64th Street when she lost control. He said she steered aggressively to the See TRIAL page 3
BIA - 20 YEARS IN REVIEW ALSO INSIDE ... • Capture the Flag • Multicultural Celebration • Outdoor Movie Nights • Tour de Delta • Children’s Day • Sun Fest
PHOTO BY
CHUNG CHOW
06190524
Tommy Europe, host of Slice TV’s The Last 10 Pounds Boot Camp, ambushed a Tsawwassen shopper this week, who will now be put through four weeks of intensive training as part of an upcoming episode of the series. See Page 5 for the full story.
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