Man Convicted in Fatal U-Haul Police Chase That Killed Edmonton Woman
A judge has delivered a guilty verdict against a man involved in a chaotic police pursuit that culminated in the tragic death of a woman in southeast Edmonton nearly two years ago. The case centered on a stolen U-Haul truck and a series of reckless actions during a high-stakes flight from law enforcement.
Court Delivers Verdict on Multiple Charges
On Monday, Court of King’s Bench Justice Maureen J. McGuire ruled that Peter Richard Ashby was responsible for operating the stolen U-Haul that led to the fatal incident. The judge stated she was satisfied that Ashby was the individual behind the wheel when the vehicle struck a police spike belt, collided with another car, and ultimately ran over 45-year-old Kassandra Gartner.
Justice McGuire also concluded that Ashby was the same person who later stole another vehicle, a Honda Civic, with a young boy inside. Fortunately, the child was left unharmed near the scene of the theft shortly afterward.
Details of the Charges and Evidence Presented
Ashby was found guilty on a total of seven charges, which included:
- Dangerous driving resulting in death
- Dangerous driving causing bodily harm
- Driving a motor vehicle while prohibited
- Theft of a motor vehicle
- Criminal flight
- Assault of a police officer
The court acquitted Ashby on a second count of assaulting a police officer and another charge of failure to stop after an accident causing death. Additionally, the Crown chose not to prosecute a separate charge related to mail theft.
During the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence to establish Ashby’s involvement. This included police-helicopter camera footage synchronized with video from nearby business cameras. DNA evidence recovered from the stolen Honda Civic also matched Ashby, strengthening the case against him.
Sequence of Events During the Police Pursuit
The incident unfolded as Ashby fled from police on a road connecting Beaumont and Edmonton. RCMP officers had deployed a spike belt at the intersection of 50 Street and 22 Avenue SW, just inside Edmonton’s city limits. After the U-Haul’s tires were damaged by the spike belt, Ashby continued to drive, accelerating into oncoming traffic to pass slower vehicles.
The U-Haul ultimately struck Gartner, who had exited her vehicle, and collided with another car before coming to a stop at a nearby convenience store. Another driver sustained injuries in the crash, and Gartner’s tires were also damaged by the spike belt.
Judge’s Reasoning and Legal Arguments
In her ruling, Justice McGuire emphasized that while the spike belt damage made the U-Haul difficult to control, Ashby’s decision to keep driving and accelerate was the primary factor leading to the fatal outcome. She noted that he had approximately 30 seconds to stop after passing through the spike belt and that the vehicle was still capable of stopping.
“Mr. Ashby had plenty of time to stop in the 30 seconds following his passing through the spike belt, his vehicle was capable of stopping. He chose instead to accelerate away,” McGuire stated.
Defence lawyer Caitlin Dick argued that the prosecution could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ashby was driving the U-Haul. However, Crown prosecutor Calvin Patterson countered that the evidence convincingly established Ashby’s role in both the U-Haul incident and the subsequent theft of the Honda Civic.
This case highlights the severe consequences of evading police and the legal accountability for such actions, particularly when they result in loss of life and public endangerment.
