Christy Natsis's pre-crash reaction delayed, officer says

An OPP crash investigator says a Pembroke dentists response in the seconds before a fatal crash was delayed.

Const. Jeff Hewitt, who reconstructs collisions for the OPP, said Wednesday that Christy Natsis didnt react the same way as Bryan Casey, who was killed in the March 2011 collision.

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He said Natsiss reaction leading up to the collision was delayed compared to drivers in similar situations.

He also said there was no measurable response to show any evasive action was taken by her, as computer data from her SUV shows she never applied her brakes.

The court had previously heard Natsiss blood alcohol level was more than doublethe legal limit.

Hewitt said debris and road marks show Natsis crossed into Caseys eastbound lane, findings that match testimony from earlier in the trial.

While Caseys blood alcohol level was one and a half times the legal limit, Hewitt said his response was typical to a perceived threat as he started to brake 1.9 seconds before impact.

Natsiss defence objected several times during Wednesdays proceedings, saying Hewitts testimony wasnt anywhere in his written report on the Highway 17 crash.

Hewitt will be back in court Thursday, where hes expected to face cross-examination from Natsiss defence.

Natsis had pleaded not guilty to impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit.