Trial of Mountie accused of running over pedestrian opens with eyewitnesses

The trial for an RCMP officer accused of running over an injured man in northern Alberta while responding to a collision has opened with eyewitness statements describing what led up to the death.

Const. Michelle Phillips has pleaded not guilty to charges of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm for the incident that killed 41-year-old Tracy Janvier.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Phillips was responding to a report of a collision on Aug. 21, 2016, involving a pedestrian on Highway 881 south of Anzac, Alta.

Irene London's statement said she and her husband were driving Janvier, who was intoxicated, home from a wedding reception in Fort McMurray when he became upset and repeatedly tried to exit the vehicle while it was moving.

After a third attempt to leave the vehicle, London said Janvier broke loose and started walking along the highway.

James Cardinal, who said he was also struck by the police vehicle driven by Phillips, testified he and his wife were driving home when their truck hit Janvier.

Cardinal, who sat on the passenger side, exited the truck to tend to the victim.

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Truck driver Thomas Doyle, meanwhile, testified that he saw the Cardinals' hazard lights and stopped to offer assistance.

Doyle flagged down an oncoming vehicle, which was the vehicle of the fourth witness, Andrew Stepanowich.

Parked along the side of the road, each alleged they saw Phillips strike Janvier and Cardinal's hand with her vehicle.

All four witnesses testified it was dark and there wasn't any artificial light.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Brooks-Lim and a pair of collision reconstructionists will take the stand Tuesday.

The trial is expected to continue until Friday.

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