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4 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Thursday, September 13, 2012 Driver blames diabetic episode for crash By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer A diabetic Brampton man will learn his fate in court next Tuesday stemming from a multi-vehicle accident in Georgetown more than two years ago that left a woman seriously injured. Austin Elson, 64, was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and fail to remain at an accident after his Dodge Caravan struck a number of vehicles on Maple Ave. between Mountainview Rd. N. and Guelph St. at about 4:30 p.m. on May 27, 2010. Elson pleaded not guilty to all charges at Provincial Court in Milton earlier this week in a two-day trial without a jury. A 38-year machine operator at the Bacardi Canada plant in Brampton with no prior criminal record, court heard that Elson left his workplace, located at Steeles Ave. and Hwy. 410, just after 3:30 p.m. on that warm, humid day. The married father of two, who has been taking insulin injections three times daily since being diagnosed in 1977, testified his workday was more strenuous than usual on that date due to a production line changeover, but said he felt fine when getting into his vehicle. However, shortly into the 15-minute drive home to his residence near Chinguacousy Rd. and Queen St. W., Elson said he began to feel a blood-sugar "low," becoming confused and disoriented in what he called heavy traffic. After reaching to eat a granola bar and half a bun left over from lunch to attempt to increase his blood-sugar level, Elson was traveling north on McLaughlin Rd. when he said he missed two left turns that he would normally take to get home and then doesn't recall anything after that until he regained consciousness in an ambulance in Georgetown at about 4:50 p.m. The seriously hurt Georgetown woman, now 57, suffered cracked ribs, collapsed lungs, a broken shoulder, head and foot lacerations and had to have her spleen removed. She was left unable to work and still has little independence due to her injuries. Another victim received significant burns and bruises from a deployed air bag and his steering wheel. On day two of the trial, endocrinology expert Dr. Jerald Bain testified on behalf of the defence. He said that Elson has Type II diabetes and after reviewing Elson's daily records of his blood-sugar readings, concluded that "his treatment was reasonably well-controlled." But on the day of the accident, Elson went into hypoglycemic shock due to a blood sugar level that was measured at 4.1 afterwards, well below the 7.4 reading-- considered to be in the normal range-- that Elson took before leaving for work about 5:45 a.m. See DRIVER, pg. 5 ... g n i c n u o Ann KEVIN Mc cCAFFERTY OUTSIDE SALES MANAGER Owners Bill and Elizabeth Graham along with Store Manager Riley McAneney would like to invite all contractors to stop by and meet Kevin and take advantage of our Trade Card program. 348 GUELPH STREET, GEORGETOWN Hours: Mon. - Fri. 6:30 am - 8:00 pm, Sat. 7:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sun. 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Hwy. 7 Georgetown RONA Apple Auto Glass Up to $750 Rebate^ for qualified college & university grads. No-charge Roadside Assistance 4-year, unlimited mileage 24 hours, 365 days a year 2012 Jetta $3,000 CASH SAVINGS* new vehicle limited warranty 4-year/80,000 km 2012 Passat Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick 2012 Jetta & 2012 Passat $5,000 CASH SAVINGS* 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year® 2012 Passat Georgetown Volkswagen Service Great oers also available on our 2013 models. Georgetown Volkswagen 203 Guelph St. 905.877.5285 /LPLWHG WLPH GLVFRXQW DYDLODEOH RQ FDVK SXUFKDVH RQO\ RI WKH IROORZLQJ VHOHFW QHZ DQG XQUHJLVWHUHG JDV PRGHOV LQ LQYHQWRU\ -HWWD3DVVDW/3DVVDW / ZLWK UHVSHFWLYH GLVFRXQWV RI 2HUV HQG 6HSWHPEHU DQG DUH VXEMHFW WR FKDQJH RU FDQFHOODWLRQ ZLWKRXW QRWLFH 2012 Jetta Highline 2.5L and 2012 Passat Highline 2.5L shown. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. ^Up to $750 rebate for recent college or university graduates. Roadside Assistance is provided by Professional Dispatch Group. :KLFKHYHU RFFXUV UVW Visit Georgetown Volkswagen for full details.