Impairment by cannabis' a factor in fatal Mill Woods crash, police say Social Sharing

sadbut pure BS

Woman, 58, died at scene of September collision between SUV and scooter

Travis McEwan · CBC News · Posted: Mar 08, 2019 9:47 AM MT | Last Updated: March 8

A 58-year-old woman died at the scene after a Suzuki scooter travelling south on Millwoods Road was struck by a northbound GMC Terrain. (Min Dhariwal/ CBC)
A 45-year-old man has been charged with driving under the influence of cannabis following a fatal collision between an SUV and a scooter in southeast Edmonton last September.

"Following a thorough investigation, it was determined that impairment by cannabis was a contributing factor to this collision," Edmonton police said in a news release Friday.

Rakesh Sidhu was initially arrested at the scene and taken to Edmonton Police Service's Southeast Division. He was evaluated by a drug-recognition expert and required to provide a urine sample.

"The drug-recognition expert felt that the person was impaired and impaired by cannabis-related drugs and a toxicology sample and toxicology demand was read," said Const. Braydon Lawrence of the EPS impaired driving unit.

"A sample was given and analyzed by the RCMP lab and it confirmed the presence of cannabis in the accused's body. After that the accused was arrested for driving causing death as well as dangerous driving causing death."

Sidhu was arrested and charged on Wednesday. He was released pending a court appearance on April 10.

Obtaining toxicology results from the RCMP lab can take months, Lawrence said.

He said he doesn't recall any previous case in Edmonton where cannabis impairment was related to a charge of impaired driving causing death.


Const. Braydon Lawrence answered questions related to recent charges laid in connection to a fatal collision that occurred in Mill Woods in September. (Travis McEwan/CBC)
A 58-year-old woman was killed in the crash, which happened around 10 a.m. on Sept. 14.

• Woman, 58, dead after Mill Woods scooter crash

The victim was riding a Suzuki scooter southbound on Mill Woods Road when it was struck by a northbound GMC Terrain that had reportedly crossed the centre line.

The collision caused the scooter to skid north in the southbound lanes, sliding into a Toyota RAV4 travelling behind it.

The Terrain continued to travel north in the southbound lanes, striking a traffic sign and a power box on the west side of the road before coming to stop.

The scooter rider died at the scene. Sidhu and the 50-year-old driver of the RAV4 were unharmed.

At the time of the crash, Edmonton police did not have roadside screening devices for cannabis. For the last month, officers have been using Dräger units, which test the amount of THC in saliva, as part of a pilot project that will continue until May.

This will be a good test case. They will need to prove the level of thc in his urine was sufficient to cause impairment - and that is impossible. I expected the charge to be worded "driving with more than 5 ng" or something that didn't further proof.
."

Regardless of what the test proves, he appeared high.
He crossed into oncoming traffic resulting in death of a person, and continued driving on the wrong side of the road.
Even without using the drug test it would be easy to prove negligent operation, and vehicular homicide.

Could have been texting, more likely than it happened because he was high

No imparement.

gb123 said:

No imparement.

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The charges.
"After that the accused was arrested for driving causing death as well as dangerous driving causing death."

gb123 said:

No imparement.

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He was stoned.
He crossed the center line and killed someone.

Either his being stoned impaired him, or he's a brutal murderer that intentionally rammed the scooter and should be tried for Murder in the First Degree.

It's one or the other.

It wasn't texting as it wasn't mentioned and they can simply check the phone to see if that was the case.

Lock him up for a few years. Maybe then he'll have the damn sense to call a cab or a friend before he goes driving around baked killing people.

TacoMac said:

He was stoned.
He crossed the center line and killed someone.

Either his being stoned impaired him, or he's a brutal murderer that intentionally rammed the scooter and should be tried for Murder in the First Degree.

It's one or the other.

It wasn't texting as it wasn't mentioned and they can simply check the phone to see if that was the case.

Lock him up for a few years. Maybe then he'll have the damn sense to call a cab or a friend before he goes driving around baked killing people.

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And the fear mongering continues....

TacoMac said:

He was stoned.
He crossed the center line and killed someone.

Either his being stoned impaired him, or he's a brutal murderer that intentionally rammed the scooter and should be tried for Murder in the First Degree.

It's one or the other.

It wasn't texting as it wasn't mentioned and they can simply check the phone to see if that was the case.

Lock him up for a few years. Maybe then he'll have the damn sense to call a cab or a friend before he goes driving around baked killing people.

Click to expand...

You are assuming that because he was "stoned" he was impaired. The two are not the same. I have smoked nearly 40 years, daily for most of that time, drove as a professional for 30 of those years (truck, taxi, limo) and do not equate the two. What impairs you when you toke does does affect everybody else the same way. There are many variables.

willieboy said:

You are assuming that because he was "stoned" he was impaired.

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Yes. That's the law.

It's no different than any other drug. It's been that way in Canada since 1925. The law is this simple:

The Criminal Code prohibits driving while impaired to any degree by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. Penalties for this offence range from a mandatory minimum fine to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence

He doesn't have to be passed out drunk, falling over stoned, or unable to walk. If you are impaired to ANY degree, you're guilty. It's that simple.

Here's a tip: If you're stoned, CALL A CAB. Don't kill people. It's not rocket science.

You are missing the point. There is an argument to be made that long term users are not impaired by smoking weed. Not the same for younger folks who are trying to figure out their limits. Here is a tip : don't assume that the cab driver isn't high.........

willieboy said:

You are missing the point. There is an argument to be made that long term users are not impaired by smoking weed. Not the same for younger folks who are trying to figure out their limits. Here is a tip : don't assume that the cab driver isn't high.........

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No, it is you who miss the point.

Jails are slap full of people who say "I've been drinking for years! I can handle my liquor!" and the same applies to other drugs.

Once again, the OP neglects to list the pertinent facts because he, like you, lives on wishful thinking.

Const. Braydon Lawrence with the Edmonton Police Service’s impaired driving unit said the driver of the GMC exhibited several qualities of someone who was impaired, and was arrested on scene. He was then taken to a police station, where he was subjected to a drug recognition expert’s evaluation and it was determined he was impaired by “cannabis-related” drugs.

It was obvious to the officer the driver was impaired. I'm sure the police report will state exactly what that was. It was because he was obviously impaired that he was arrested to begin with and drug tested. Had he displayed no symptoms of being obviously impaired, they would have had no probable cause to arrest him, let alone take a urine sample.

But do keep on talking about how a guy stoned driving on the wrong fucking side of the road was not impaired.

I'm sure he'll be very comforted by your misguided sympathy while he's in prison.

TacoMac said:

No, it is you who miss the point.

Jails are slap full of people who say "I've been drinking for years! I can handle my liquor!" and the same applies to other drugs.

Once again, the OP neglects to list the pertinent facts because he, like you, lives on wishful thinking.

Const. Braydon Lawrence with the Edmonton Police Service’s impaired driving unit said the driver of the GMC exhibited several qualities of someone who was impaired, and was arrested on scene. He was then taken to a police station, where he was subjected to a drug recognition expert’s evaluation and it was determined he was impaired by “cannabis-related” drugs.

It was obvious to the officer the driver was impaired. I'm sure the police report will state exactly what that was. It was because he was obviously impaired that he was arrested to begin with and drug tested. Had he displayed no symptoms of being obviously impaired, they would have had no probable cause to arrest him, let alone take a urine sample.

But do keep on talking about how a guy stoned driving on the wrong fucking side of the road was not impaired.

I'm sure he'll be very comforted by your misguided sympathy while he's in prison.

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Well said.

Why would you think I have sympathy for buddy ? He drifted over the line and hit the person on the scooter. My point is in this country the law does not work the same as in Georgia. Different countries. Different mindsets. Different. In Canada there is still alot of battles to be heading off to court for clarification. This is one area (impairment). There are many.

Different? Why is not driving under the influence a U.S thing?
Now they need to determine your tolerance before saying you are under the influence. If they are testing or blaming you they likely have reason to.

The Cannabis laws are different. The Medical Marijuana program is different. The attitude to weed is different.

TacoMac said:

Yes. That's the law.

It's no different than any other drug. It's been that way in Canada since 1925. The law is this simple:

The Criminal Code prohibits driving while impaired to any degree by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. Penalties for this offence range from a mandatory minimum fine to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence

He doesn't have to be passed out drunk, falling over stoned, or unable to walk. If you are impaired to ANY degree, you're guilty. It's that simple.

Here's a tip: If you're stoned, CALL A CAB. Don't kill people. It's not rocket science.

Click to expand...

Your out to lunch....how misinformed are ya...pathetic.

willieboy said:

The Cannabis laws are different. The Medical Marijuana program is different. The attitude to weed is different.

Click to expand...

Tell that to the family of the lady on the scooter. Im sure they will find some relief knowing he was only smoking weed.

Boatguy said:

Different? Why is not driving under the influence a U.S thing?

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Yes, it is.

In Georgia it's essentially the exact same as in Canada. DUI is what we call it. It's Driving Under the Influence.

Now, as far as alcohol goes, they have a breath test and a blood test. If your Blood/Alcohol level is .08 or higher, you're going to jail for DUI.

When it comes to narcotics, if you fail a field sobriety test and are then tested positive for ANY amount of ANY drug, you're going to jail for DUI.

If you refuse to take a field sobriety test, you automatically lose your license for 90 days and are taken to a hospital where you will pay for a blood test.

We don't screw around down here. Neither does Canada. What your 'attitude' towards marijuana is doesn't matter. If you're weaving on the road, driving on the wrong fucking side of it and killing people you are going to jail.

TacoMac said:

Yes, it is.

In Georgia it's essentially the exact same as in Canada. DUI is what we call it. It's Driving Under the Influence.

Now, as far as alcohol goes, they have a breath test and a blood test. If your Blood/Alcohol level is .08 or higher, you're going to jail for DUI.

When it comes to narcotics, if you fail a field sobriety test and are then tested positive for ANY amount of ANY drug, you're going to jail for DUI.

If you refuse to take a field sobriety test, you automatically lose your license for 90 days and are taken to a hospital where you will pay for a blood test.

We don't screw around down here. Neither does Canada. What your 'attitude' towards marijuana is doesn't matter. If you're weaving on the road, driving on the wrong fucking side of it and killing people you are going to jail.

Click to expand...

Here in Massachusetts its also .08 and the same penalties as Georgia. Under 21 that limit is .02 bac.