Several more witnesses took the stand at Bonita Purtill's drunk driving trial Thursday afternoon: Michelle Morley was the first witness in the afternoon, telling the court she was waiting in the turning lane at a red light at Huron and Devonshire. She says she hesitated for a second once the light turned green. Morley went no more than a car length before slamming on her brakes, as a white truck raced past her car. She told the court "If I hadn't hesitated my car would have been hit." She told the court "The crash sounded like a building crumbling." Morley pointed to the accused in the courtroom, Purtill, as the driver of the white truck. Candace Christian was the second witness of the afternoon. She testified she and her husband were in the car behind Morley. Based on the speed of the truck she told the court "I knew the truck was going to run the light." She also identified the driver of the white truck to be Bonita Purtill. The court heard that the accused was barley responsive, and weaving while sitting on a bumper of a vehicle following the collision. During cross examination she was asked if she actually saw the taillights of the truck prior to the collision. She testified she had not but said "With the speed of the truck you would expect to hear a screech." Woodstock fire fighter Tyler Christian took to the stand. He was also a witness and was off-duty at the time of the crash on October 13th, 2008. Christian says the light turned green and the car in front of him went forward before braking quickly. The reason he told the court was a white pickup came zooming through the intersection, and ended up T-Boning a black Fusion. The court heard that the fire fighter was first shocked, but rushed into action grabbing his first aid pack. The driver of the white truck told him she was all-right, so he moved his attention back to the Fusion and driver, Mary Rodrigues. He said Rodrigues was responsive as he made small talk. Christian used what is called a C-spine which is used to prevent further threat of paralysis. He told the court he was with Rodrigues as firefighters used the jaws of life. He described the sounds of popping, crunching and smashing as they pried the door open to free her. Christian said he never saw the truck stop or brake. Sergeant Marvin Massecar led the investigation of Bonita Purtill. He was also the traffic reconstructionist in the case, and the last witness to testify at Purtill's trial today. Massecar told the court the black Ford Fusion carrying the Fleming family was pushed an estimated 12-meters from being hit on the drivers side by the pick-up truck driven by Purtill. When asked about length of time for the traffic lights to turn at the intersection, Massecar told the court it takes about 3 seconds between amber and red...and that there is a 1.5 second all way red light at Devonshire and Huron. Based on evidence at the scene he determined there was no driver error on the account of the Fusion. During cross examination he told the court there were no skid marks or road markings of any type. He also told the court he got a warrant to bring the truck into an A listed mechanic named Jeff Masters, who examined both vehicles. Masters will take the stand Friday morning.
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