One of the survivors of a 2017 crash that killed two and seriously injured two other 18-year-old hockey players from Renfrew has testified in court. Jacob McGrimmon was questioned by assistant crown attourney Richard Morris today (April 27th, 2021).
McGrimmon told the court he has never owned a fake ID and he wasn’t asked to show identification at Shooters Bar and Grill in Calabogie, despite only being 18-years-old at the time.
McGrimmon told the court the driver, Brandon Hanniman, caught the shoulder of the road and overcorrected causing the collision. McGrimmon testified that he was in the front seat of the vehicle when they crashed.
Hanniman and hockey teammate Alex Paquette were killed while McGrimmon broke his arm in several places and required a titanium rod inserted. A fourth passenger, Ben Komorowski-Schuneman, was also seriously injured in the crash and a fifth individual was uninjured as they got a separate ride home.
It’s alleged that Ann Senack of Greater Madawaska served the underage teenagers from Renfrew passed the point of intoxication. The crown is trying to prove the actions of Ms. Senack directly contributed to the collision along Calabogie Road on the night of October 26th, 2017 into the early morning hours of October 27th, 2017.
Senack has been charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily death and two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. None of the charges have been proven in court.
McGrimmon had difficulty remember the majority of events that took place the night in question. When the crown asked if McGrimmon had been drinking before going to Shooters Bar and Grill he didn’t know. McGrimmon also wasn’t sure if alcohol was available in the car when they were driving to the bar. However, McGrimmon did remember ordering wings and sweet potato fries.
Video evidence from inside Shooters Bar and Grill along with bar receipts show the five young men drinking two pitchers of beer, four bottles of beer, five Rum and Coke, two Caesars, 21 Polar Bear shots, two Porn Star shots, three Burt Reynolds shots and four shots of tequila in a 2-hour time period.
The defense argued the 51 drinks consumed in the 2-hours the individuals were at the bar only worked out t0 25.53 standard drinks (about 5 drinks per person), since the beers were only 4% (instead of the 5% laid out in the Smart Serve Manual) and Shooters Bar & Grill uses 1 ounce shot glasses (instead of the 1.5 ounce shot glasses laid out in the Smart Serve Manual).
McGrimmon admitted to being pretty drunk at the bar and while his memory wasn’t clear, he told the court, Brandon (Hanniman) said he was ok to drive and it would have taken a long time for a cab to come from Renfrew.
The defense team laid out some serious concerns with regards to late disclosure by the crown. Defense Lawyer Tony Paciocco told the court they have received 90 pages of new information and for a first time a formal accident collision report including weather records, new photos and indications on the speed the vehicle was travelling at the time of the crash.
The defense says an adjournment may be required due to the late disclosure. The judge sided with the defense and said the court is alarmed with the information is being presented on day 7 of the trial. The defense indicated an adjournment is not being requested at this time, but added that trial may not finish this summer.
The crown finished questioning Jacob McGrimmon this afternoon and cross examination of the witness from the defense is expected to continue tomorrow morning (April 28th, 2021) at 9:30am.
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