On Air Now

Heart FM Mornings

5:30am - 10:00am

  • 519-537-1047

Now Playing

Listen Live Listen Live HD2

Crash Witnesses Say Purtill Ran Red Light, Smelled of Alcohol

Thursday, 21 June 2012 07:34

Three witnesses have taken the stand at Bonita Purtill's (right) drunk driving trial this morning. She's facing 6 charges including impaired driving and criminal negligence causing the death of 4-month-old Alex Fleming. All three witnesses saw the crash, or responded two the scene in the initial minutes after it happened, on the night of October 13th, 2008. The first witness was Kelly Brown. He was driving east on Devonshire that night, with the white pick-up truck, right in front of him. He noticed the truck wasn't slowing down for the red light, and said to his wife "I hope no one is coming through." He estimated the truck was travelling at about 60km/h. It collided with a black car, and Brown says he didn't see the break lights come on on the truck before the crash. Today's second witness was Tonya Skipper, a passenger in a vehicle stopped at the red light. She didn't see the crash, but heard hit. She testified that she went to check on the driver of the white truck, who rolled her window down and identified herself as "Bonita". Skipper says she asked questions of Bonita, saying she was unclear, had slurred speech and hesitated with answers. She also says she detected the odour of alcohol and believed her to be a "drunk driver". When the fire department arrived at the scene, Skipper says firefighters opened up the truck door and Bonita said "Be careful with my truck.". Tonya Skipper's husband, Todd Skipper testified. He was at the wheel of his vehicle, waiting at the red light when he says he saw "a white blur out of the corner of his eyes". He saw the black car enter the intersection and it was "t-boned" by the truck. Skipper says he went to the driver of the white truck, as others were responding to the occupants of the car. He says the truck driver was incoherent and jumbled her words. He told police it appeared something was off about the driver.

Share

More from Local News

Weather

Recently Played

© Copyright 2025 104.7 Heart FM (CIHR-FM) is owned and operated by Byrnes Communications Inc.. Powered by Aiir.