MEDICINE HAT – The trial for Curtis Beisel resumed Thursday morning at Medicine Hat provincial court.
A forensic blood expert took the stand providing testimony about Beisel’s blood alcohol level on the night of the collision.
Beisel, 56, was charged in January 2016 in connection with the collision near Dunmore on Dec. 17, 2015.
It is alleged Beisel was driving a Chrysler sedan the wrong way in the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway, when it collided with a van carrying a family of four, seriously injuring three people, including an infant that was one week old at the time. The passenger in Beisel’s car also suffered injuries.
Beisel is facing 12 charges, including four counts of of impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, four counts of exceeding .08 causing bodily harm and four counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
The blood sample comes from the hospital the night of the collision, and was covered under a warrant. Last month, a judge ruled Beisel’s right to obtain counsel under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was breached, rendering blood evidence taken that night by the RCMP, inadmissible in court.
The expert testified at 8:30 p.m., in hospital following the collision, Beisel’s blood alcohol level registered at 173mg/100ml of blood. That’s equivalent to .173 BAC, more than double the legal limit of .08 BAC.
The expert estimates that at the time of the crash, Beisel’s blood alcohol level was allegedly between 186 and 200mg/100ml of blood, more than two and a half times the legal limit.
At that level of intoxication, the toxicologist testified the individual would be displaying clear signs of impairment. That would include slurred speech, staggering and difficulty standing, decreased vision and awareness of surroundings, impaired judgment, slow information processing and reaction time, and an inability to operate a motor vehicle. The expert also said those with a lower tolerance may even experience blackouts around the 200mg/100ml (or .20 BAC)
The toxicologist also mentioned a study during her testimony which found people with a blood alcohol content of .08 are three times more likely to be involved in a crash. At .10 the chance of a collision increases by five times. Those who reach .15 BAC or higher, are 22 times more likely to be involved in a crash. She also said the study also found the severity of the crashes increases with the alcohol concentration in the blood.
The defense did ask several questions about the integrity of the blood evidence during the proceeding, but the expert said she’s confident in the samples and her findings.
The trial will continue on February 2, 2018 in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.
