A three-day fatality inquiry began Wednesday into the death of a St. Paul girl who died after a vehicle slammed through the wall of her northeastern Alberta school.
On Oct. 25, 2012, Richard Benson crashed his van into Racette Junior High School, injuring three students, including Grade 6 student Megan Alyssa Wolitski.
The 11-year-old was taken the local hospital, where she died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries the next day.
In court Wednesday, Wolitski’s parents were given the chance to ask questions of witnesses in hopes of learning more about what happened the day of the crash.
Questions asked by Wolitski’s mother focused mainly around the timeline of events. She wondered how long it took emergency crews to transport her daughter from the scene to the St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre and then to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.
“That day, no one communicated with us,” Sherry Wolitski said, adding it would be nice to see more communication between hospital staff and victim’s families.
Sherry Wolitski also took time to thank the fire chief and his crews for their efforts on the day of the crash.
The inquiry also focused on the timing of events, as the counsel interviewed the medical examiner, firefighters, an EMT, a paramedic and Dr. Albert Harmse, the doctor who attended to Megan Wolitski when she arrived at the hospital in St. Paul.
Harmse said all three children injured in the collision were brought in to the hospital and “under no circumstances” could the hospital handle Megan Wolitski’s injuries. Harmse said Megan Wolitski was the third child to arrive.
While on the stand, Harmse recalled a powerful moment he witnessed between the 11-year-old and her father.
“The memory of him sitting next to his daughter’s bed, holding her hand, is something I will never forget.”
On several occasions Wednesday, witnesses and emergency officials were asked if they would have done things differently. St. Paul fire chief Trevor Kotowich said while there are always times emergency officials wish they could go back and do things differently, “this was not one of them.”
Questions were also asked about why Megan Wolitski was transferred to hospital in Edmonton by fixed-wing aircraft rather than STARS Air Ambulance.
The crash seriously hurt two other students. Madeleine “Maddie” Guitard was left in a vegetative state and died nearly four years later, on Aug. 31, 2016. Angelina Luce suffered a traumatic brain injury, which has left her with speech and eye problems.
READ MORE: Alberta girl dies nearly 4 years after fatal St. Paul school crash
In November 2013, Benson was sentenced to two years less a day for the fatal crash. After taking into account time served, Benson was set to spend 11-and- a-half months behind bars.
Benson pleaded guilty to one count of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Benson had suffered seizures since sustaining a head injury in 2002 and had a seizure before the crash occurred. The agreed statement of facts also said Benson had stopped taking suggested doses of medication in 2005 and didn’t disclose his medical condition in order to continue driving.
READ MORE: Richard Benson sentenced in fatal St. Paul school crash
Benson had just dropped two of his children off at different schools in St. Paul and stopped at the post office the morning of the crash. He had a seizure as he was driving home down a back alley.
His van bolted at about 80 km/h down more back lanes, crossed five streets and slammed into a window and wall at the school. It landed in a lower-level Grade 6 classroom and sent students and desks flying. Three children were pinned underneath the vehicle.
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The court heard that Benson, a father of five children, was remorseful.
During the inquiry Wednesday, some questioned whether doctors should be required to report medical conditions that may make it unfit for a person to drive.
READ MORE: Brother of man accused in St. Paul school crash speaks out while community continues to mourn
As part of Benson’s sentence, Justice Paul Belzil imposed a lifelong driving ban on the then 47-year-old. He said Benson wasn’t being punished for having a medical condition, but for driving when he shouldn’t have been.
The fatality inquiry into Megan Wolitski’s death is scheduled for Sept. 21-23, in St. Paul, and will be presided over by Justice Karl Wilberg.
St. Paul is located about 185 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
Fatality inquiries are held after police investigations and criminal matters, including legal proceedings, have been resolved. The presiding judge will release a report after the inquiry is complete.
With files from Quinn Ohler, Global News.
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