in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 21 ,2 02 2 | 2 25+ Years Experience 100% Canadian Made Cabinetry Quality Craftsmanship • Custom Made Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinetry • Closet Systems • Entertainment Units • Basement Renovations • Full Renovations & More! Visit Our 6,000 sq.ft. Design Centre: Units 2-3, 333 Wyecroft Rd.,Oakville 905.844.3332 | www.aromakitchens.ca • info@aromakitchens.ca Create Your Dream Look Enjoy a job that makes a difference, competitive pay, great hours, and free training! SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CAREER NOw HIRINg SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS in Halton! Scan QR Code for more information or to apply online CONTACT US TO APPLY TODAY 1.888.749.1515 attridge.com An Oakville man charged with im- paired driving causing death says he was traumatized by the knowledge that he fa- tally struck a woman and her dog with his vehicle, but maintains he was not con- scious due to a medical episode during that incident. Kevin Hyde, 59, took the stand in a Mil- ton court on Tuesday, July 12, the seventh day of his trial. The retired Siemens project manager testified about his medical history as well as his experiences on Dec. 3, 2020, when his vehicle left the roadway and fatally struck speech and language pathologist Louise Whiten, and her dog Zack. Hyde was arrested at the scene of the crash, which occurred on Lakeshore Road near Burgundy Drive, and charged with impaired driving causing death and dan- gerous driving causing death. He has pleaded not guilty. Hyde noted that prior to the crash he was driving to visit his daughter, but took a side trip to Glen Oaks Cemetery to visit his father's grave. It was during this 12:30 p.m. cemetery visit that he says he consumed two beers over the course of an hour. Having not been able to connect with his daughter by phone, Hyde got back in his vehicle and started heading home. "It was a nice drive. A nice day," he said. When asked by defence attorney Dean Paquette if the beers had any impact on him, Hyde told the court they did not. He also denied smoking marijuana that day, but said he did smoke about half a marijuana cigarette the previous night at around 8 p.m. When asked about the accident, which occurred shortly after 2 p.m., Hyde said he remembers starting to cough and then nothing until feeling a tremendous impact. He says he then awoke in the middle of the street and noticed severe damage to his car. The Oakville man testified he was con- fused, stunned and hurt from the accident, initially believing someone had hit him. He said he heard some commotion and noticed three people looking at something on the ground. As he got closer, he said, he saw a person lying on the ground partially covered by a blanket. "As I approached, a man approached me and tersely said, 'You hit that person,' which again confounded me because I did not know anything," testified Hyde. "What I couldn't understand was why no one was helping this lady. So, I proceed- ed over to the person on the ground and I lifted up the blanket and ... suffice to say it was not a very pretty site." Hyde was arrested moments later and initially charged with impaired driving. He says he immediately demanded a roadside breathalyzer test, but the police DRIVER CHARGED IN FATAL CRASH TESTIFIES Left: Louise Whiten. Right: The Dec. 3, 2020 crash scene in Oakville. Graham Paine/Metroland DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com CRIME See - page 3 Louise Whiten Facebook photo