Young Man Shares Experience After Collision with Crossing Guard

WARNING: This story contains a graphic description of the collision.

It was an emotionally intense day in Ontario Court in Ottawa on Thursday as 19-year-old Xzander Wright described the moment he hit crossing guard Peter Clark at a Barrhaven intersection three months ago.

After dropping one of his brothers off at work on March 23, Wright told his defence lawyer Lawrence Greenspon that he was on his way home when he made a rolling stop at the intersection of Cedarview Road and Kennevale Drive – a place he had never driven through before.

He didn’t realize there was a crosswalk ahead. Wright looked to his right and saw a family on the sidewalk who he testified wasn’t planning to cross the road. Then he glanced to his left and saw nothing.

As Wright drove his mother’s black pickup truck through the intersection, he felt what he described as a “light tap” on the front end, he told court.

‘I was scared’

He felt two bumps as he continued through the turn, and in court, Wright broke down crying while recalling looking in the rear-view mirror and seeing someone lying on the road.

Wright drove forward about 30 metres or so, turned around to go back to where it happened, parked the vehicle, and got out. He noticed two people helping Clark and two others calling 911.

“I seen what happened, and I was scared and got back in the truck,” Wright testified, still visibly shaken.

WATCH | Young man accused of killing crossing guard speaks out during trial:

Young man accused of killing crossing guard in hit-and-run testifies at trial

Xzander Wright, who is facing charges for striking and killing crossing guard Peter Clark with a truck in March, spoke in his own defence Thursday. Wright has pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene and is currently being tried for dangerous driving causing Clark’s death. CBC justice reporter Kristy Nease has more details.

Wright is on trial for dangerous driving causing death.

In the crowded left side of public gallery behind the Crown, Clark’s wife Amanda Clark sat crying; her face and arms were bright red from holding back sobs while someone rubbed her back. Justice David Berg had advised family members not to express any emotional reactions at the start of proceedings Thursday.

On the other side of the gallery, Wright’s mother sat alone without much reaction, occasionally checking her phone from her seat.

Wright testified that he didn’t understand what had happened until he saw Clark on the road in his rear-view mirror. He left without offering assistance or providing his name because he didn’t know how to handle it and felt scared, according to Greenspon.

The main entrance of the Ottawa Courthouse on Elgin Street in September 2022. (Matthew Kupfer/CBC)

During cross-examination by assistant Crown attorney Julian Daller, Wright acknowledged several factors that posed dangers: an object obstructing part of his view under the rearview mirror, heavily tinted glass on the front passenger window, and bright sunlight. However, Wright admitted that he did nothing about these issues.

Daller played surveillance footage from just before impact which showed families approaching as well as Clark walking toward them holding up his stop sign.

The video indicated that this family continued walking as Wright’s truck neared them while Clark moved into their path with his stop sign raised. When asked why he didn’t allow them to pass first instead of trying to get through himself, Wright responded simply with “I cannot say,” adding that he couldn’t remember why.

‘They weren’t at curb exactly’

“His view of it was that they weren’t intending to cross. They weren’t at curb exactly at that point. He looked right saw what saw looked left didn’t see Mr. Clark proceeded,” Greenspon commented regarding Wright’s testimony about families near intersection.

The witness mentioned being distracted when his vape pen fell into lap from center console causing him glance downward instead directly ahead which contributed danger; but later clarified “not really” when Daller suggested hope things would resolve quietly before arrest.
“Not really,” said Wight eventually admitting afterwards , “wasn’t hoping anything.. Just planning. Planning turn myself after finishing some things.”
Closing arguments are scheduled for next week; judge likely needs time reach decision.Ottawa crossing guard Peter Clarke shown via undated image shared by police department (Ottawa Police Service handout)

The trial commenced Monday

The case started Monday with testimony provided exclusively by Judge alone wherein Daller showcased two videos taken from plaza beside Cedarview/Kennevale intersection happening March 23rd. Videos enlarged display intersection movements both for Clarke &pickup exiting location after turning back then leaving again. One clip seemingly captured impact moment caused gasps tears among Clarke supporters present including family members gallery audience ; during screenings, witnessed burying chin chest low. A young guy wearing grey sweater appeared exiting truck afterward heading towards area then returning occasionally glancing over shoulder prior departing. Constable Josée Provençal assigned investigation unit detailed reconstruction report surrounding incident occurring noted Clarke wore high-visibility jacket stood stationary marked spot crossed prior impact occurred. Police officials outlined pickup began accelerating gradually executing left turn throughout process maintaining speed direction consistently. Defence argued officers overlooked aspects affecting visibility given sun’s positioning during accident timeframe affecting driver-side pillar blocking sightlines mirrors viewed outside.

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