Ruth Burger arrives at the London court house with her lawyer, Ron Ellis. Monday, June 1, 2015. Photo by Ashton PatisRuth Burger arrives at the London court house with her lawyer, Ron Ellis. Monday, June 1, 2015. Photo by Ashton Patis
London

Driver In Deadly Costco Crash Found Guilty

Ruth Burger, the woman behind the wheel of the car that crashed into a London Costco killing two children, has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

Justice Jonathon George told the court he does not buy Burger's story in which she says her foot became stuck under the brake pedal of her MonteCarlo, sending it speeding towards the store and an unsuspecting pregnant mother with her two children.

The 66-year-old has been convicted of two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

"It is incapable of belief... her foot could not have gotten caught," the Justice George told the court. "I reject completely the idea that this was a terrible accident."

Burger was initially charged with criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. However, the judge ruled she was not negligent but rather driving dangerously at the time of the crash, resulting in the lesser charges.

Evidence shows Burger's car accelerated from 11km/h to 46km/h in the five seconds leading up to the crash, not once during that time did she hit the brakes. Her car travelled 60m straight back, between cement bollards and through the doors of the store, hitting Danah McKinnon-Bozek, Addison Hall and 3-year-old Miah Bozek.

Addison Hall, 6, was thrown into the front lobby of the store and died. McKinnon-Bozek had an emergency c-section. Her newborn baby, Rihannon McKinnon-Bozek, died a week later.

"I just want her to be remembered for her bright blue eyes. She was a precious angel and she was everything to me," says Hall's father, Eric, outside the courthouse.

He notes it has been a rough year for every one involved, including the driver.

"I can't even imagine what she's feeling. I wish her the best and hope she can find what I can to move on...I never really had anything against her, it's something that's so tragic yet so random too," he says.

Burger wiped tears from her face as the judge read his decision. She testified during her two day long trial, stating all she could think was "oh no, oh no, oh no" as her car sped towards the front doors of the store on July 25, 2014.

When her MonteCarlo came to a rest against a cement wall she told the court she was in shock, saying "what have I done?" over and over.

Justice George says that cement wall was the only thing stopping her car from travelling into the store itself and causing harm to more people.

Burger will return to court for sentencing on October 20.

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