Trial underway for supervisor charged with criminal negligence in deadly 2020 dump truck crash
Milton Urgiles arrived at the Barrie courthouse Monday, on trial for criminal negligence causing death after the dump truck Denis Garant was driving lost control and crashed into a tree three years ago, on Sept. 22, 2020, near Alliston, Ont.
Police charged the 46-year-old man from Toronto eight months after the crash on Adjala-Tecumseth Townline between Concessions 2 and 3, alleging the dump truck 53-year-old Garant was driving had a mechanical defect that caused it to leave the road, crash into a ditch and hit the tree.
On Monday, the Crown alleged that Urgiles was Garant's supervisor at the time of the deadly collision and ignored concerned text messages from Garant notifying him the truck's steering was cutting in and out the night before the fatal crash.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The Crown told the court Urgiles never responded to the messages and sent the vehicle out the following morning with Garant behind the wheel.
A retired collision reconstruction expert and forensic mechanic took the stand, testifying he found a failed front left tire with no tread left on its inner half and an exposed steel cord during his investigation of the crash scene.
Denis Garant is pictured in this undated photo. (Source: DeMarco Funeral Home obituary)
The expert told the court the tire should not have been on the road that day because the lack of tread would have made maintaining contact with the roadway difficult.
"You're not getting traction, so it is going to cause trouble steering, and the truck will just slide on the asphalt itself," he said, adding the truck would ultimately shift to the side of the damaged tire, causing it to likely burst from overwhelming heat and pressure.
The defence argued documents obtained by Urgiles and the Toronto trucking company he worked for show the truck Garant had been driving had undergone a safety inspection roughly a month before the crash.
The two-week trial began last week and is scheduled to resume Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE House of Commons meets to elect new Speaker, seven candidates vying for key role
Members of Parliament are gathering in the House of Commons to elect a new Speaker, where the seven candidates vying for the key role will be making last-minute pitches to their peers.
India tells Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, an official says
India has told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, an official familiar with the matter said Tuesday, ramping up a confrontation between the two countries over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.
Frequent price increases by businesses contributing to sticky inflation: BoC official
Bank of Canada deputy governor Nicolas Vincent says businesses are still raising their prices more frequently and by larger amounts than they did before the pandemic, which is contributing to higher-than-expected inflation.
Homeowners brace for mortgage payment shock amid higher-for-longer rate outlook
From ultra-low interest rates that led to a huge spike in real estate demand to the speed with which interest rates shot up to levels not seen in a generation, it's been hard to keep up with the shifting landscape for mortgage holders.
Diwali fireworks advisory issued despite warnings it might be discriminatory: emails
An Environment Canada advisory that singled out Diwali fireworks as a reason to prepare for poor air quality last October was issued despite multiple warnings from some staff about it being discriminatory.
Fat Bear Week is happening! Check out the contestants now, start voting Wednesday
The 2023 lineup includes fan favorite Otis, who “moves less to catch more” according to the announcement video, and last year’s winner 747, who is rarely challenged for prime fishing spots. Now it’s time to meet the contenders:
Trump seethes through the start of trial in New York lawsuit accusing him of lying about his wealth
Aggrieved and defiant, former U.S. president Donald Trump sat through hours of sometimes testy opening statements Monday in a fraud lawsuit that could cost him control of Trump Tower and other prized properties.
These are the 5 headlines you should read this morning
The House of Commons is set to pick a new Speaker, Manitobans go to the polls today, and homeowners in Canada brace for mortgage payment shock. Here's what you need to know to start your day.
New study shows where you fall on new internet addiction spectrum
Researchers have come up with categories for people who are addicted to the internet and for those who are at risk.
Atlantic
-
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE House of Commons meets to elect new Speaker, seven candidates vying for key role
Members of Parliament are gathering in the House of Commons to elect a new Speaker, where the seven candidates vying for the key role will be making last-minute pitches to their peers.
-
Sunday night structure fire in Saint John displaces 8 residents
The fire prompted a temporary shelter-in-place notice from the City of Saint John Sunday night due to smoke in the city.
-
74-year-old dead after vehicle-pedestrian collision: N.S. RCMP
Pictou County District RCMP say they are investigating a fatal collision between a vehicle and pedestrian in Granton, N.S.
Montreal
-
Montreal to construct more parks, 'sponge' roads to withstand rain
Over the next two years, the City of Montreal says it plans to construct almost 30 parks and 400 "sponge" pavements to make them more resistant to heavy rainfall.
-
Man in hospital after stabbing in Lachine
A 43-year-old man is in hospital after a stabbing in Montreal's Lachine borough.
-
What you need to know about the election of a new Speaker
On Tuesday, MPs will be electing a new Speaker of the House of Commons, in the wake of Anthony Rota's resignation. It will be a day for the Canadian political history books, as well as a day full of pomp and procedure. Here's what you need to know about the role, the contenders, and the process.
Ottawa
-
One dead after driver strikes two pedestrians in Sandy Hill
Ottawa police say a woman in her 40s is dead after a driver struck her and another person in Sandy Hill.
-
NEW THIS MORNING
NEW THIS MORNING October heatwave could break records
The first week of October could break not one but two heat records in Ottawa.
-
One person suffers life-threatening injury after hitting horse on Highway 417
Ontario Provincial Police say a driver suffered a life-threatening injury in an overnight crash on Highway 417 that involved horses that had wandered onto the highway.
Toronto
-
Fatal crash on Hwy. 401 in Etobicoke, westbound lanes blocked
A 64-year-old Toronto man has died following a collision on Highway 401 in Etobicoke this morning.
-
Blue Jays on the road for best-of-three wild-card series with Twins
The Toronto Blue Jays kick off their American League wild-card playoff series with the Minnesota Twins today at Target Field in Minneapolis.
-
Man charged in Toronto human trafficking investigation allegedly held woman in Montreal hotel room for 3 months
A Markham, Ont. man charged in a human trafficking investigation allegedly held a woman in a Montreal hotel room for three months, investigators say.
Kitchener
-
'There are thousands of us': Sixties Scoop survivor shares story following National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Tauni Sheldon is often referred to as “the picture-perfect baby” with full cheeks, almond-shaped eyes and sporting a frilly white dress.
-
Four teens arrested in connection to Pride flag taken from school and burned: Police
Waterloo regional police have arrested four teenagers after they say a Pride flag was taken from a Kitchener high school, trampled on, and burned.
-
Police to canvass Kitchener neighbourhood for homicide investigation
People living in a Kitchener neighbourhood may get a visit from police Tuesday.
London
-
'Serious crash' in South Bruce
County Road 28 is closed between Concession 2 and Concession 4
-
One person dies after crash in Middlesex Centre
OPP say one person has died after a commercial vehicle hit a hydro pole in Middlesex Centre.
-
Masking guidelines revised at LHSC and St. Joseph’s: Here’s what you need to know
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) are joining hospitals across the region in adjusting masking guidelines.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Highway 17 closed between Markstay and Hagar after crash
A crash has closed Highway 17 between Markstay and Hagar east of Sudbury on Tuesday morning.
-
Teen dies in ATV rollover on Wahanpitae First Nation near Sudbury
Tragedy has struck another northern Ontario family, as a 14-year-old boy from Wahnapitae First Nation was killed in an ATV rollover marking the 10th death in the region involving an off-road vehicle since July.
-
Sudbury police use surveillance video to catch trio of mugging suspects
A violent attack on man lying on the ground in a downtown Sudbury underpass tunnel was captured on surveillance video and police are looking for the third suspect who fled.
Windsor
-
Bus cancellations in Windsor-Essex
County buses are cancelled while city buses are running.
-
'We heard them loud and clear': standing room only at Unifor Local 444 membership meeting
Unifor Local 444 officials are preparing for contract negotiations with Stellantis while a deadline with General Motors looms and a large portion of local union membership raise concern over the pattern set by Ford.
-
UWindsor gets 'best-ever' placement in global ranking
The University of Windsor has achieved its highest-ever position in the World University Rankings by the Times Higher Education.
Calgary
-
Do you feel happy living in Calgary? Quality of life report suggests many do
A new report suggests that despite high inflation, volatile energy prices and a competitive housing market, Calgarians are happier than they've been in recent years.
-
2 Calgary weekend shootings believed to be connected, targeted: police
Police believe two shootings in southwest and southeast Calgary over the weekend are connected and targeted the same person.
-
Fire crews extinguish blaze at northwest Calgary gravel plant
A fire broke out at a gravel plant in northwest Calgary on Monday night.
Saskatoon
-
Sask. First Nation threatens to evict residents of suspected drug houses
A Saskatchewan First Nation has declared a state of emergency after a spate of seven overdoses in a single day.
-
'Blessing to know the guy': Former teammate, Riders remember George Reed
On Monday Saskatchewan Roughriders’ president and CEO Craig Reynolds, as well as former teammate of George Reed, Steve Mazurak, met with the media following the football legend’s passing.
-
Saskatoon Transit asking to hire 6 support officers to patrol buses
Saskatoon Transit is renewing calls for its own dedicated team of community support officers (CSOs) to help respond to incidents on buses and transit terminals.
Edmonton
-
Southeast Edmonton area closed after crash involving pedestrian
A pedestrian was hit in southeast Edmonton Tuesday morning, police say.
-
Homeowners brace for mortgage payment shock amid higher-for-longer rate outlook
From ultra-low interest rates that led to a huge spike in real estate demand to the speed with which interest rates shot up to levels not seen in a generation, it's been hard to keep up with the shifting landscape for mortgage holders.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: Brief mid-week cooldown looms
We'll get one more day in the mid-teens in Edmonton. After hitting highs of 14 C and 16 C Sunday and Monday, we should be right around 15 C in the city this afternoon.
Vancouver
-
Paralyzed varsity quarterback makes emotional return to Vancouver field
Two months after varsity quarterback Gavin Kamoschinski broke his neck, the 17-year-old returned to the football field Saturday to inspire his teammates.
-
'It was heartbreaking': Okanagan family targeted by thieves after losing home to wildfire
After a family from B.C.'s Okanagan lost their home to the McDougall Creek wildfire, looters decided to ransack what little they had left.
-
Cities should cover the costs when bears killed on their land, say B.C. advocates
An animal rights charity has suggested that B.C. cities, towns and perhaps even homeowners should be charged each time a conservation officer is required to deal with a nuisance bear that’s habituated to human food or garbage.
