Alex Kurial/Local Journalism Initiative

The driver of an SUV that was shredded when he crashed on a dark country road outside of Alvinston pled guilty to dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

It was shortly after midnight on Mar. 2, 2019 when Ivan Russell, 29, was driving south on Cameron Rd.

His GMC Yukon was estimated to be travelling more than double the speed limit doing 165 km/h.

Russell passed the Alvinston Cemetery and lost control of the vehicle at the curve in the road.

The SUV collided with a hydro pole so savagely that the frame was torn off the chassis and the pole was completely severed.

The three passengers were flung along the ground. Russell stayed in the remains of the SUV which then smashed into a tree. The wreckage was so bad Brooke-Alvinston firefighters had to free him with the jaws of life.

Russell’s passengers – a man from Plympton-Wyoming, a man from Dawn-Euphemia, and a woman from Petrolia – were lucky to survive the crash. One man had severe neck and back injuries while the other man had a serious head injury. The woman sustained serious leg injuries that needed surgery.

Russell, who is from Oil Springs, appeared virtually in Sarnia Court Dec. 21 pleading guilty to three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

Justice Anne McFadyen accepted the guilty pleas and adjourned the case while a pre-sentence report is prepared. Russell returns to court on Feb. 22.