Day two of the Brett Iler trial wrapped up on Thursday with Chatham-Kent police Sergeant Jason Herder testifying as an expert witness.
Herder was one of five police witnesses called by the Crown.
He was the collision reconstructionist for the May 27, 2022 crash that saw two people killed and three others seriously injured. The five victims were all in a 1950 Buick during the Retrofest Classic Car Cruise in Chatham on that day.
Herder said all of the evidence gathered points to Iler causing the head-on crash on Queen's Line at Dillon Road on his way to work.
Sergeant Herder told the Chatham-Kent Provincial Offences Court in Blenheim that the eastbound 2013 Ford driven by Iler entered the westbound lane and sideswiped a westbound Chevy truck, lost control, then hit the westbound Buick head-on and climbed its hood, which launched the Ford 20 feet into the air.
"Vehicle 1 (Iler's vehicle) entered the westbound lane of traffic, came into the on-coming lane, and that's how the collision began," Sergeant Herder told the court.
Herder noted his findings at the scene indicated that the Ford gouged the road with its rim at the point of impact after the front tire blew, left scuff and skid marks, and a fluid trail, all pointing to the Ford initiating the crash.
The court also heard the investigation indicated the Ford was doing 97 km/hr at the time of impact in a 90 km/hr speed zone. The road was described as dry and in good condition and the weather was mostly sunny.
No impairment or distracted driving was discovered, according to Herder.
The sergeant also said that all three vehicles directly involved in the crash were inspected by a licensed mechanic, who found no mechanical issues with them.
Herder said the Buick's driver, Nigel Sedge, swerved to try and avoid the crash, but there was nothing he could have done to prevent the horrific tragedy, adding that the Buick "was at the point of no escape."
The victims were trapped and had to be extricated from the car.
Jamiee Doyle, 28, and Nigel Sedge, 29, were killed in the crash.
Colin Chinnick, Brian Griffith, and Kyle Doyle, Jaimee's husband, were severely hurt with broken bones and other injuries.
Sergeant Herder was the last of the Crown's witnesses.
He concluded his testimony by saying the collision was an avoidable collision.
The defence begins to cross-examine Herder on Friday.
Iler was charged with two counts of careless driving causing death and three counts of careless driving causing bodily harm.