The teenage driver involved in a crash that killed a young St. John’s mother last Friday night was pushed into provincial court in a wheelchair Wednesday afternoon, stitches across her face and a blue hospital bootie on one foot.
Her appearance in the courtroom was short: she was formally charged with dangerous driving causing death, flight from police causing death, three counts each of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and flight from police causing bodily harm, as well as a number of court order breaches.
Crown prosecutor Jason House indicated he was opposed to the 17-year-old’s release from custody, and a full-day bail hearing was set for next Wednesday.
The girl was accompanied by family members as well as police officers, who sat in the courtroom during the proceedings.
Related story:
St. John’s accident victim Alyssa Power was an amazing mother, friends say
The girl’s mother wasn’t happy to see members of the media in the court lobby before the hearing got underway, shouting at reporters, “She’s my daughter! No one’s going near her!”
Like all accused youth, the girl’s identity is banned from publication due to her age.
Police say the teenager was driving a Honda Accord south on Hamlyn Road in the west end of St. John’s around 10:30 Friday night and refused to stop for police when officers attempted to pull the car over for a traffic safety stop. Moments later, the Accord collided with an SUV headed west on Canada Drive.
The teenager and two of her passengers — two teenage boys —sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while 19-year-old Alyssa Power, who was also a passenger in the Accord, was pronounced dead at the scene. The lone occupant of the SUV sustained minor injuries.
The RNC has called in members of the Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team to conduct an independent investigation into the crash, as is standard procedure in the case of serious incidents involving police.
Power was the mother of a one-month-old girl, and was remembered by friends in the days after the crash as caring, funny, and a good mother who had lost her own mom at a very young age. Her baby’s paternal grandmother told The Telegram she had been babysitting Friday night, and Power had messaged her shortly before the crash to send love to her newborn.
A Go Fund Me site has been established by Power’s friends to raise money for the baby and her family, and close to $3,000 has been pledged so far. Those wishing to donate can visit www.gofundme.com/donations-for-alyssa-powers-family .
Donations of baby items, including diapers and wipes, are also being accepted at 75 Froude Ave. and 23 Eagle Court.
Twitter: @tara_bradbury
