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Monday, December 14, 2009Update: Katelynn Porter, 16, perishes in West Lorne crash
Source:
St. Thomas Times-Journal
ONTARIO - A 17-year-old Rodney teen has been charged at his hospital bedside with impaired driving causing death, after a 16-year-old West Lorne girl was killed Saturday evening in west Elgin when the pick-up truck in which she was a passenger drove off the road. Meanwhile, tributes are beginning to flow in memory of Katelynn Lillian Porter, a student at West Elgin Secondary School. A cross, surrounded by candles, flowers, a picture and a Dora the Explorer bag mark the spot where she was killed. "In loving memory of Katelynn Porter. 12/12/09. 9:40 p.m." is written between two hearts on the roadside memorial, a makeshift cross. Porter was pronounced dead at the scene after a neighbour, alerted by a crash victim, summoned help. And officials at her school were officials are trying to come to grips with the news of her death, especially so close to Christmas. The driver also is charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, after another teen, a 17-year-old St. Thomas girl, also suffered serious injury. Elgin OPP said Monday they are continuing to investigate circumstances surrounding the crash, including where the truck and occupants had been prior to the mishap. "That's something we typically look into as the investigation goes on," Const. Troy Carlson said yesterday. The truck was northbound on Dunborough Road just south of Pioneer Line about 9:40 p.m. when it left the road, drove into the east ditch and rolled, Elgin OPP said. The driver was taken to Four Counties Health Services, Newbury. He remains in serious but stable condition, OPP said Monday. He appeared Sunday by audio link before a justice of the peace and was remanded in custody under guard in hospital for a release hearing. He is charged as a young offender and his identity is protected. The 17-year-old St. Thomas girl was taken to Four Counties hospital, then airlifted to London Health Sciences Centre. She also remains in serious but stable condition. Meanwhile, police said Monday they discovered a fourth person also was in the crew-cab vehicle and was hurt in the crash, but left before police arrived. He was later found at a relative's home. Noting the man was hurt himself, Carlson doubted the 21-year-old West Elgin man will face any charge. "I don't think there would be anything — unless further information comes out." His injury was described as minor. Carlson said police will not be releasing names of the 21-year-old man nor 17-year-old girl, citing police practice generally to withhold names of victims. Dunborough Road was closed for a number of hours while OPP technical traffic collision investigators reconstructed the crash. Source: Elgin OPP Media 17-year-old driver charged with impaired driving causing death/bodily harm charges ONTARIO - Elgin County OPP today released the name of the sixteen year old female killed in the West Lorne collision Saturday evening as Katelynn Lillian Porter, 16, of West Elgin. The collision occurred Saturday night at approximately 9:40pm on Dunborough Road just south of Pioneer Line, Dutton/Dunwich. Investigation has revealed that a fourth occupant, a 21 year old West Elgin man, had also been in the vehicle but departed the scene prior to police arrival. He was later found at a relative’s residence suffering from minor injuries. Both the driver and surviving female passenger are still listed in serious but stable condition. Police have charged the 17 year old male driver of the vehicle with Impaired Driving causing Death and Impaired Driving causing Bodily Harm. The police continue to investigate this incident. A FaceGroup Group, In Loving Memory Of Katelynn Porter ♥, has been setup by Katelynn's friends to share memories and condolences. Source: London Free Press Teen killed in West Lorne car crash ONTARIO - A 16-year-old West Lorne girl is dead and two other teenagers seriously injured in a single vehicle crash Saturday night. The crash occurred about 9:40 p.m. when a pickup truck traveling north on Dunborough Road went into the east ditch and rolled, Elgin OPP said. The 17-year-old male driver from Rodney was taken to Four Counties Hospital and is listed in serious condition. A 17-year-old female passenger from St. Thomas was taken to Four Counties, then airlifted to London Health Sciences Centre, where she is listed in serious condition. A 16-year-old female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. The names of the victims are being withheld until next of kin are notified. Investigators blocked off Dunborough Road between Marsh and Pioneer Lines, just south of Highway 401 near West Lorne for most of the night to determine the cause of the crash. |
Dad hopes lesson learnedCrash victim accepted ride from driver, who was later charged By KATE DUBINSKI Last Updated: 15th December 2009, 10:06am |
A cross -- surrounded by candles, flowers, a picture and a Dora the Explorer bag -- mark the spot where Katelynn Lillian Porter died. Porter, 16, of West Lorne, was killed in a weekend crash on Dunborough Rd. in Dutton- Dunwich, west of St. Thomas, in Elgin County. She'd been at a gathering with friends, her dad said, for a typical Saturday night get-together. "She was a social butterfly, with friends all the time. She played the mother-hen role," said dad Ed Porter yesterday. "Unfortunately . . . she got into a car with someone she shouldn't have. "I'd love people to remember her big smile and what a loving girl she was," her dad said, his voice breaking. "Her death -- I just hope that people realize the message about drinking and driving is a reality. I hope when I speak at her funeral, those kids will listen." The teen loved soccer. Her team made her a striker because of her goal-scoring ability. Porter has two sisters, 13 and 17, who also attend West Elgin secondary school, where friends and staff are remembering the friendly teen who was going through a rebellious phase. "We're trying to make sure that people are talking about her," said West Elgin principal Richard Pincombe. "We want them to keep talking, said Pincombe. "Unfortunately, this kind of tragedy isn't new to this community." Students have been putting together thoughts of Porter for a memory wall. Others were gathering pictures and assembling binders for the girl's family. Tributes to the teen also poured in on a Facebook group, In Loving Memory of Katelynn Porter. School staff have set up a donation box for gifts for the Porter family, since the death comes so close to Christmas. Sunday, friends gathered at a roadside memorial, a makeshift cross, to remember Katelynn: "In loving memory of Katelynn Porter. 12/12/09. 9:40 p.m." is written between two hearts on the memorial. Two other young people involved in the single-vehicle crash -- the 17-year-old male driver and a 16-year-old female passenger -- were in serious but stable condition in hospital yesterday. Police at first thought there were only three people in the pickup, but an investigation revealed a fourth person -- a 21-year-old West Elgin man -- had been in the truck but left before police arrived. He was later found at a relative's house, suffering minor injuries. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash that occurred when the pickup truck, heading north on Dunborough Rd. between Marsh and Pioneer lines, went into the east ditch and rolled. Police have charged the pickup's driver with impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm. Porter's family is asking for donations to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Yesterday, police reminded teens -- and all motorists -- not to drink and drive. "One death at the hands of an alleged impaired driver is too many," said Ron Gentle, the Western Region OPP's chief superintendent. "My hearts go out to the families forever scarred by this tragic and preventable collision. However, I'm hoping no additional reminders are required to stop motorists from drinking and driving." Visitation is tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the West Lorne Chapel, where the funeral will be held Thursday at 3:30 p.m. |