The Owen Sound Sun Times e-edition

Man fined in fatal snowmobile crash case

SCOTT DUNN

A man pleaded guilty and was fined $100 Thursday in Owen Sound Provincial Offences court for a traffic infraction that involved the death of at 56-year-old Clarksburg man on a snowmobile in The Blue Mountains.

Chris Kornas pleaded guilty through his lawyer to the Highway Traffic Act offence of unlawfully parking his vehicle on the 10th Line in The Blue Mountains “in such a way that it interfered with movement of traffic” on Jan. 30, 2021.

Doug Sheridan died in the mishap. He was riding his snowmobile ahead of five others on the 10th Line when the accident happened.

Assistant Crown attorney Elissa Hines Reimer read aloud an agreed statement of facts during the hearing conducted virtually over Zoom.

Emergency crews responded about 2:46 p.m. to a collision at 415526 on the 10th Line in The Blue Mountains. It's a rural area and the gravel 10th Line was snow-packed and icy on a clear and sunny day, she said. Kornas was driving a 2019 Ford Escape and his partner, Dr. Natalie Wainwright, was in the car with him. He was driving out of a private driveway to turn north on the 10th Line, Hines Reimer said.

A snowbank 76 centimetres high and mature trees by the road reduced visibility while approaching the collision scene.

Sheridan's snowmobile group was spaced out while travelling south on the 10th Line with Sheridan “well ahead of the others,” Hines Reimer said.

“Due to the icy conditions and obstructions caused by the treeline and snowbanks, the defendants slowly pulled forward onto the roadway to gain a proper visual of the roadway” before turning, with his front wheels in the southbound lane, the Crown said.

Kornas then saw an oncoming snowmobile about 60 metres away “at a high rate of speed,” though the speed could not be determined, according to the agreed facts. Though stationary, Kornas applied his brakes while a portion of the Ford was on the road.

“Simultaneously, Mr. Sheridan appeared to see the defendant's vehicle and applied his brakes. Kornas and his wife saw the snowmobile “fishtail across the road.”

About 10 metres away, the snowmobile hit the western snowbank and Sheridan was ejected from the machine, which came to a stop on the road by the Ford.

Sheridan slid south on the road and came to rest beside the Ford. Sheridan's full-face helmet was severely damaged, Hines Reimer said.

About a minute later, other members of the snowmobile group arrived, including Sheridan's son. They were too far behind to see the collision. People called 911 and Dr. Wainwright attempted life-sustaining efforts, helped by others. Emergency responders arrived, including an air ambulance, but Sheridan died at the scene, Hines Reimer said. Members of Sheridan's family, including his wife Barb, son Nathan and daughter Whitney, shared victim impact statements.

Barb Sheridan said she lost a soulmate and now she lives alone for the first time in 40 years. “I eat alone, I sleep alone, I sit alone.” She also directed comments to Kornas.

“I truly hope you can find at least happiness I had -- and think Doug is a hero -- for he saved your life that day without thinking of his own. You now have a future because of his selfless act. Life is a gift and you got a second chance.”

Kornas offered his condolences for their loss and what they continue to go through. He said he thinks often about how difficult it must be for them. He said everything he's heard about Sheridan was that he was “a really great father, husband, family member and friend to each of you and he'll be very, very missed.”

Justice of the Peace Tim Stinson convicted Kornas and imposed a $100 fine, the maximum allowed, plus court fees. He said he was glad a trial wasn't needed and that Kornas “accepts responsibility for his role in this tragedy.”

Stinson said there were a lot of discussions involving the Crown's office and police over what charges were appropriate.

LOCAL

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2022-10-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-10-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://eeditionowensoundsuntimes.pressreader.com/article/281569474610662

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