High school friends found guilty in street race that killed Brampton woman

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Meeshika Sharma
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Ron Hopkins, 25, and Taylor Williams, 24  have been convicted of dangerous driving causing death in a street race that cut his car in half and killed his girlfriend.publive-image

Both of Brampton were found guilty by Justice Jennifer Woollcombe in a judgement released April 18.

A sentencing hearing will be held June 8.

An eight-day judge-alone trial in February heard that the two friends were racing east on Orenda Road April 5, 2014. It was a sunny, clear day when the Honda Civic Hopkins was driving left the road on a slight “s” curve around 3:50 p.m. and slammed into a cement light pole.

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The car was split in two.

Hopkins’ girlfriend, Candace Gabriel, 21, of Brampton was a passenger in the car and she was killed instantly. Hopkins suffered minor injuries.

Witness Clayton Arsenault, who was driving in the same direction on Orenda, testified he heard the two vehicles rev their engines as they sat at a red light at the intersection of Rutherford Road, and after they went through the intersection at a normal pace, the two vehicles “took off flying.”

He estimated they were travelling between 100 and 110 kph in the 60 kph zone.

Three other witnesses testified, one estimating the vehicles were travelling “at least” 100 kph, another saying they were probably going 70 to 75 kph.

 

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