Closing arguments wrap in crossing guard's death trial

Attorneys presented closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of a 19-year-old driver accused of dangerous driving causing the death of crossing guard Peter Clark, who was struck and killed on March 23 at Cedarview Drive and Kennevale Road in Barrhaven.

Xzander Wright pleaded guilty in April to failing to remain at the scene of a hit-and-run but pleaded not guilty to the separate charge of dangerous driving causing death. Justice David Berg will decide whether Wright's decisions on the morning of the collision constituted a "marked departure from the standard care expected of a reasonable person."

The defence team, led by Lawrence Greenspon, characterized the case as a "tragic perceptual failure, not a marked departure." Greenspon argued Wright never saw Clark walking into the intersection and that his vision could have been obstructed by sunlight or the truck's windshield pillar. "If he had seen Mr. Clark, there is no doubt he would have braked," Greenspon said.

Meanwhile, assistant Crown attorney Julian Daller argued that Wright was looking down while advancing, then continued accelerating despite feeling a light tap, seeing the hand-held stop sign on the hood, and feeling two large bumps under the wheels.

A video shown during the trial shows the black pickup truck approaching the intersection and Peter jogging into the crosswalk in a reflective safety vest. The truck makes a rolling stop, then accelerates and strikes him, running him over as it continues into the intersection and turns left. The truck stopped several metres away before making a U-turn and driving back toward the scene. A man exits the truck and takes a couple of steps toward the scene before hesitating and returning to the vehicle to drive away.

Amanda Clark, Peter's widow, left the courtroom each time the video was displayed, her face red from crying.