A Windsor man has pleaded not guilty to killing two people and injuring three others in a head-on crash during the Retrofest Classic Car Cruise in Chatham in 2022.
The trial for Brett Iler, 28, of Windsor began on Wednesday at Chatham-Kent's Provincial Offences Court in Blenheim. It's the first day of four days set aside for the trial after it was delayed on March 4, 2024 because of a shoulder injury suffered when Iler fell at his home in late February.
Iler was charged with two counts of careless driving causing death and three counts of careless driving causing bodily harm after a four-vehicle crash just outside of Chatham that killed two people and seriously injured three others on May 27, 2022.
Investigators allege Iler was driving east on Queen’s Line at Dillon Road when his vehicle crashed with a pickup truck travelling westbound, then hit a 1950s Buick that had the five victims inside. Two of the occupants in the Buick died at the scene.
The prosecution said it will call six witnesses on Wednesday.
One witness, who was not involved with the Car Cruise, testified he had a speeding erratic driver tailgate him and back off three times while on his way into Chatham the day of the Classic Car Cruise.
He described the car as a pewter coloured late model Ford with a male driver.
The witness told the court that the erratic driving started at Queens Line and Highway 401 and that the driver pulled out to pass him several times, but never did. He also said the Ford driver was also jerking the car left to right several times, but never strayed outside of his lane.
The witness said he eventually came upon a parade of classic cars heading westbound on Queens Line and then saw one launched into the air through his rear view mirror.
He noted he called 911, but never saw the Ford again.
The organizers and others involved in Retrofest 2022 in Chatham are being sued by several victims and families in connection with the fatal crash.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars in pain and suffering and damages to cover economic loss and medical expenses. Four lawsuits were filed in Windsor Superior Court in late May 2023 on behalf of five plaintiffs.
The lawsuits names Iler, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Chatham-Kent police, the Downtown Chatham Historic BIA, and the Kent Historic Auto Club and claim the fatal crash happened because the defendants were negligent and didn't take the necessary precautions to ensure the route was safe or warn the participants about its danger. Iler is also being accused by the plaintiffs of speeding, driving recklessly, being fatigued, driving with defective brakes and tires, adding his vehicle went "airborne" after striking another vehicle. The statements of claim also said police didn't monitor or supervise the route well enough.
Iler's trial continues on Thursday with the prosecution expected to call six more witnesses.