Image

Oil Springs man apologizes for life altering accident

July 3, 2021

Alex Kurial/Local Journalism Initiative

An Oil Springs man says he’s sorry for a crash in Alvinston which led to ‘life altering’ injuries to him and his passengers.

Ivan Russell, 29, plead guilty in December to dangerous driving causing bodily harm. It’s now up to Justice Anne McFadyen whether he will serve his sentence in jail or in the community. He was in court Monday for legal arguments. Crown Attorney Melanie Nancekievill says a jail term is necessary and suggested one year behind bars. Defence Attorney Robert DiPietro wants Russell to serve his time in the community and countered with a conditional sentence of equal length.

Russell was driving south on Cameron Road shortly after midnight March 2, 2019. His GMC Yukon hit speeds of 165 km/h, more than double the speed limit, when he 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. 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.

Nancekievill says all three victims suffered injuries that were “life-altering, catastrophic… The impact is such that lives are forever changed.”

She says crash scene photos were “astounding… It certainly is a wonder that anyone survived this collision.”

Russell also suffered major injuries and says he was initially told he’d never walk again. He’s since had reconstructive surgery done on one knee with surgery on the other pending.

“It’s a quite tragic event. If I could take back what happened I would, no matter what the cost,” says Russell. “We all got thrown quite a hardball here.

“I’d just like to apologize to everyone and say how sorry I am for everything that’s happened here. I hope that I can gain some forgiveness from this. But I don’t expect it.”

DiPietro says his client was recently diagnosed with epilepsy and that his doctor suggested this may have factored into the crash. DiPietro acknowledged that he had no hard evidence of this however.

The diagnosis has cost Russell his licence though, which is unlikely to be reinstated unless he is somehow cured of his epileptic condition. DiPietro argued that because of this a licence ban wasn’t really necessary.

Nancekievill is seeking a driving ban of three years in addition to however long Russell may spend in jail. She says that if a conditional sentence is chosen it should be in the 18-24 month range instead of 12 months.

McFadyen adjourned the case until July 26 when she’ll return with her decision.

The Local Journalism Initiative supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Forest Kiwanis hope a mandarin, apple and cucumber can raise some cash for Kineto

February 7, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent “Why would somebody give 6.2 million for a banana on the wall?” That’s what Forest’s Jose Van Haastert thought after seeing what a crypto billionaire paid for a piece of conceptual art with a banana on the wall. Her family talked about the massive price tag for the art over Christmas. But the idea got Van Haastert,

Read More

Image
News

New scholarship program at Great Lakes created in honour of late Sarnia judge

February 7, 2025

Students in St. Clair Township and Sarnia will be able to apply for a new scholarship program, named in honour of an Ontario Court Justice from Sarnia. The Sarnia Community Foundation says the family of the late Anne McFadyen has set up an annual scholarship program, similar to LCCVI’s Nicol Scholarships. It will honour five graduating students from Great Lakes

Read More

Front Page

Driver taken to hospital after Inwood accident

February 7, 2025

An Alvinston woman had to be taken to hospital after an accident near Inwood Monday. Lambton OPP have yet to release any details about the crash Monday morning which occurred during foggy conditions. Witnesses say two vehicles, a van and large pickup truck, collided at the corner of Inwood and Shiloh Line Monday morning. The van was T-boned. Brooke-Alvinston Fire

Read More

Image
Sports

LCCVI on top of girls high school hockey standings

February 7, 2025

LCCVI moved into a first place tie with Chatham-Kent Secondary School in girls’ high school hockey this week with a 2-1 win over the Golden Hawks in Chatham. The Lancers are 2-0-2 in the south division this season. The regular season wraps up late next week. Playoff dates have yet to be announced.

Read More