Driver on trial for P.E.I. crash involving cyclist

A cyclist who was paralyzed after his bike and a car collided last year will testify at a two-day trial that started today in P.E.I. provincial court in Charlottetown.

Alan Stanley, 60, has beenparalyzed sincethe crash on August 1, 2015 on Brackley Point Road in Charlottetown.

Stanley is among seven prosecution witnesses slated to testify at the trial of the car driver involved in the crash.

The driver, Jordan Arsenault-Loeman, of Saint John, N.B., has pleaded not guilty to making an unsafe turn, an infraction under the Highway Traffic Act.

The defence contends Arsenault-Loeman did no wrong traffic was heavy and cars were moving slowly.

Stanley was with a group of 20 or 30 cyclists coming down a hill in the bike lane on Brackley Point Road, by the Sherwood Business Centre.

Arsenault-Loeman's lawyer argues the bicycles were simply going too fast so his client can't be at fault.

Witnesses testify

Two witnesses to the crash testified Tuesday morning, describing a scene of busy traffic that sunny Saturday afternoon.

Both testified the driver was in the northbound lane, and was making a left turn when the crash took place.

They testified the car was moving slowly.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," one of them testified.

The cyclist was heading south in the bike lane on Brackley Point Road.

He was with several riders who were travelling next to the curb spread out at varying intervals, as one witness described it.

'Knew it wasn't good'

Under cross examination, the witnesses testified the bicycles were moving fast.

"I thought it must be a race," one witness testified, "judging by their speed and how many there was."

The other witness testified the bicycles were moving faster than the cars on the road.

"As the car made the left, I heard a crash," one witness testified. "Then I saw the cyclist lying on his back. I knew it wasn't good."

The trial is scheduled to run two days.

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