New details on crash that killed an Ottawa crossing guard

New facts were presented to court Thursday in the case of a driver accused of killing an Ottawa crossing guard. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

Warning: Details in this story may be disturbing to some

The 19-year-old man charged in a hit and run that killed an Ottawa crossing guard in March briefly returned to the scene and observed the victim less than a minute after the crash before leaving again, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Peter Clark, 55, was struck by a vehicle while on duty at the corner of Cedarview Road and Kennevale Drive in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven on March 23. He died from his injuries in hospital.

Xzander Wright has pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to stop after an accident causing death in connection to the crash. Wright has pleaded not guilty to a charge of dangerous operation causing death and will go to trial.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented in an Ottawa courtroom on Thursday morning, Wright was travelling south on Cedarview Road in a Toyota Tundra pickup truck at approximately 8:19 a.m.

Clark was wearing a reflective safety jacket and holding a handheld stop sign with his right arm when he entered the crosswalk to help a mother and her two children cross the street.

The court document said Wright stopped at the stop sign and Clark was in the pedestrian crosswalk with his back to the vehicle.

“The accused proceeded through the intersection turning left to travel eastbound on Kennevale Drive, striking Mr. Clark from behind, and driving over him,” said the agreed statement of facts.

“The accused then drove off east on Kennevale Drive.”

According to the agreed statement of facts, Wright returned to the scene less than a minute later, “exited his vehicle and went to observe Mr. Clark.”

“The accused then stayed on scene briefly and then got back into his truck and left the scene,” the document said.

“The accused left the scene of this fatal collision without providing assistance to Mr. Clark or providing his name or address.”

The document said “various investigative steps” by Ottawa police, including surveillance video of the incident, helped investigators identify the truck and the suspect.

CTV News Ottawa reported in March that Wright is also facing an impaired driving charge in connection with an incident last July in eastern Ontario.

That matter is now scheduled to go to trial in a Brockville, Ont. court in December.

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