UPDATE: Driving error resulted in 2 tourists’ deaths – Expert witness
This is according to one of the prosecution’s key witnesses, automotive expert Spencer Grant, who said while under oath at the High Court of the Virgin Islands (UK) on June 28, 2017 “In my opinion, it was a driving error. It was a fallible human error on the part of Mr Roger Williams. The driver would have been accelerating a bit, unknowingly or unwittingly, causing the vehicle to go into neutral and get out of control,” as he added that it was an error that couldn’t effect an escape.
Grant told the court that Williams’ right foot was taken away from the brake pedal to touch the gas pedal to get a little more speed, “If that was what transpired, the vehicle is going to be out of control in a runaway mode.”
This speed was excessive, he noted, because of the fact that the bus was on a descent.
The witness also told the court that the bus was in very good working condition prior to the accident.
Williams is charged with two counts of Manslaughter and two counts of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving, in relation to the death of Mary Kettner, 67 and Dana Husereau, 53.
Under cross-examination by Williams, attorney Richard Rowe opined that more lives could have been lost had the taxi driver not taken evasive action.
The trial continues before Justice Nicola P. Byer and the defense is yet to have its chance at presenting their witnesses. The defense attorney had previously indicated that he intended on having an independent automotive expert examine the bus.
See previous article published June 28, 2017
UPDATE: CGB accident victim pardons driver for wife's death
- Mr Richard Kettner refused to use Gov’t resources to travel to VI to testify in manslaughter trial; Says that would not bring back his wife
Mr Richard Kettner, the husband of Mary Kettner who died after the tour bus they were travelling in on December 6, 2015 crashed along Cane Garden Bay Hill has moved to pardon the driver Mr Roger Williams, refused to exhaust the Virgin Islands’ Government funds for his travel as a witness for trial and made it clear that the driver was not speeding when he encountered problems.
This Mr Kettner made clear in a missive penned to the judicial system as part of his evidence in the trial of Williams for the 2015 accident, which also claimed the life of Ms Dana Husereau.
Mr Kettner expressed that there is no way him testifying can bring back his wife to life, as he told the court that the statement given to the police back in 2015, in his mind, is sufficient to enable anyone to assess the particulars which led to the accident.
"My personal presence at the hearing does not give me any satisfaction or closure in this matter. The tragedy that I and Mr Husereau experienced, the instantaneous loss of our best friends and soulmate can never be required or soothed by judicial determination," the man said in his letter.
No ill will
Mr Kettner further stated that he has no ill will for Mr Williams and “wish him a life without tragedy such as ours. I have also considered the time and expense already incurred in this matter upon the good people of the British Virgin Islands. I decline the use of any further resources towards the resolution of this matter."
He has resolved that whatever the court decides, "Will not return the love of my life of 47 years."
Mr Kettner had also told the police that it was a rainy day, the road was wet, and Mr Williams was not speeding but driving "normal".
See previous article published June 27, 2017
Trial winds down for driver accused of causing death of 2 tourists in 2015
- Roger Williams was the driver of the bus that crashed on Cane Garden Bay Hill in December 2015, killing two cruise ship tourists
Roger Williams, the driver of the tour bus that crashed, killing two tourists, Mary Kettner and Dana Husereau, and injuring 18 others on December 6, 2015 in the Round Hill area of Cane Garden Bay, will soon know his fate as his high court trial is winding down.
Williams is charged with two counts of Manslaughter and two counts of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. His trial began on June 23, 2017 before Justice Nichola P. Byer in the High Court of the Virgin Islands.
‘Up with lightning, down with thunder’
It’s the case of the prosecution that the accused was rushing to complete the tour as he wanted to load another trip. In this process he was allegedly speeding and endangered the lives of his passengers. The Crown is being represented by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Kim Hollis QC, who had told the court in her opening remarks that Williams had used words to his passengers like "Up with lightning and down with thunder" as he hurried through the tour, going uphill then down.
It was while descending Cane Garden Bay Hill that the driver lost control of the bus which crashed into a guard rail, killing the two women. The court heard that Williams told police during investigations that he heard a pop at which time he lost control.
On board the ill-fated bus were 20 passengers from the Celebrity Summit Cruise ship.
Among those who testified in the trial was the husband of one of the deceased, Mr Husereau, who also recalled the accused driver saying the words “up with lightning and down with thunder” during the journey.
Passenger wanted to get off bus before tour started
The grieving man recalled that he had pleaded with his wife to let them get off the bus before it had moved off from the Cruise Pier because he felt they were waiting too long for Williams to load the bus but she convinced him to stay, telling him he needed to be patient.
Mr Husereau also accused Williams of responding to him in a rude tone when he enquired about the length of time they were waiting for the bus to be filled.
He told the court that as the bus was heading down a hill he had noticed the driver struggling to get the bus into gear before they ended up crashing. He also recalled the last words of his wife who he held on to and kissed before she died.
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