Eyewitnesses testify at Jeremie LeBlanc fatal crash trial - Action News
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Edmonton

Eyewitnesses testify at Jeremie LeBlanc fatal crash trial

An eyewitness to a deadly crash that killed a teenager four years ago said the scene looked like an explosion, and recalled speaking moments later to the man now charged in the case.

Leblanc, 16, died in April 2010 after a crash allegedly caused by street racing

Gail-Ann Wilson told the court she was driving behind Jeremie LeBlanc when the crash happened. (CBC)

An eyewitness to a deadly crash that killed a teenager four years ago said the scene looked like an explosion, and recalled speaking moments later to the man now charged in the case.

It didn't look like an accident it looked like an explosion, said Gail-Ann Wilson, who testified Tuesday in an Edmonton courtroom.

Wilson told court she was following behind Jeremie LeBlancs car that night. She said when the teenagers car turned left, she saw a cloud of grey and a Mercedes that wound up on the median.

Wilson, who had previously met the accused, Jayant Soni, said she didnt recognize him when she first pulled over to render first aid.

She said she spoke to Soni moments after the crash about the condition of the teenager in the car that was struck.

The most profound comment was when we turned to look at the EMS workers attending to that driver he faced in the direction of the car and said, Oh, my God, I think I just killed that boy, she said.

Defense lawyer Brian Beresh disputed Wilson's memory, pointing out that she never mentioned it in police reports or in the preliminary hearing in 2012.

Jeremie Leblanc, 16, was killed in a crash in southeast Edmonton on Apr. 23, 2010. (Facebook)
Leblanc, 16, died after his Oldsmobile was struck by a Lexus and a Mercedes Benz speeding north on 66th Street towards 31st Avenue on April 23, 2010.

Soni, 35, is alleged to have been behind the wheel of the Mercedes. He is accused of dangerous driving causing death and street racing causing death in the deadly crash.

Soni had previously filed a $200,000 civil lawsuit against LeBlancs family, in which he admitted to driving the Mercedes, but blamed LeBlanc for the collision.

Soni later discontinued the claim and is now fighting to prevent the information he provided from being used as evidence in his criminal trial.

The driver of theLexus pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of an accident.

You hope youre waking up from a bad dream

Leblancs parents Marc and Pauline are attending the trial this week. They say their lives have been a nightmare since their son was killed in the crash, allegedly caused by street racing.

Pauline and Marc Leblanc are attending the trial of a 35-year-old man accused of street racing in a crash that killed their son, Jeremie, in April 2010. (CBC)
You hope you're waking up from a bad dream. Your son is gone. We're never gonna see him again, Marc LeBlanc told CBC News outside the courthouse on Monday.

You remember his last words.You remember when the police knocked on our door at 3 o'clock to go identify his body. I tell you, that's the last thing I wish on any parent.

The couple said their son had been on his way to visit his pregnant sister at the Grey Nuns Hospital when he was hit.

She gave birth about seven hours after the LeBlancs identified their son's body.

Additional charge dismissed

Soni originally faced a charge of refusing to provide a breath sample but that was dismissed on Monday because officers took too long to ask for a sample once they suspected he had been drinking.

Pauline LeBlanc is hopeful information now being considered by the judge will be allowed as evidence.

We still are grieving, she said. Nothing is done. Of course we want all the evidence to come out.