A man from Markham has been found guilty of impaired and dangerous driving causing death after he killed a police officer in 2022.
York Regional Police Const. Travis Gillespie, who was 38 years old at the time, was heading to work when he lost his life in the two-vehicle crash on Major Mackenzie Drive E. and Warden Avenue, in the City of Markham, on Sept. 14, 2022. Authorities reported that a Porsche Cayenne SUV and a white Honda Accord driven by Gillespie collided around 6 a. m.
On Monday, Justice Mark Edwards determined that Haoju Zhou, the driver of the Porsche who is now 26 years old, crossed over the center line on Major Mackenzie Drive and hit Gillespie’s vehicle.
“Mr. Gillespie never had a chance to avoid a collision with Mr. Zhou’s vehicle; a collision that ultimately caused his death. I refer to the impact involving Mr. Zhou and Mr. Gillespie as a collision. It was not an accident,” said Edwards in his reasons for decision.
Edwards also found that Zhou, who held a G2 license at the time of the crash, was under the influence of alcohol when he fell asleep and lost control of his car.
“A driver who goes on driving in the knowledge that he or she might fall asleep at any time may be held criminally liable,” said Edwards, citing a legal expert on the issue.
Blood tests taken two hours after the crash indicated that Zhou had a blood alcohol concentration of 93 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. G2 drivers in Ontario are not allowed to have any alcohol in their system.
During the trial, Zhou’s defense attorney claimed he displayed few “classic signs of impairment,” including flushed face, slurred speech, or lack of comprehension.
Edwards did not find this argument convincing and declared Zhou guilty of dangerous operation causing death and impaired operation causing death.
Const. Travis Gillespie was on his way to work when he was killed in the two-vehicle crash on Major Mackenzie Drive E. and Warden Avenue, in the City of Markham, on Sept. 14, 2022. (Mehrdad Nazarahari/CBC)
Zhou remains out on bail while awaiting sentencing scheduled for January 2026.
In a statement, York Regional Police Chief Jim Mac Sween mentioned how much Gillespie is missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
“Our thoughts are with the Gillespie family as they continue to mourn a life taken far too soon,” he said in the statement sent Monday.
Mac Sween also expressed gratitude towards Peel Regional Police Major Collision Investigation for their help in achieving this conviction.
“We are pleased with this result and grateful to all who played a role in delivering justice for Travis following his death,” said Mac Sween.
Source link
