Lethbridge Courthouse

By Lara Fominoff

“Looking back, I should have stopped”- testifies 32-year-old Michael White Quills as trial concludes

Jan 10, 2020 | 3:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A 32-year-old man from Cardston testified in Lethbridge Provincial Court Friday (Jan. 10) that not only was he speeding and not paying attention to the road in front of him, but that he had consumed nearly a dozen beers, and did not stop or offer assistance after he had hit a 26-year-old man, killing him.

The incident occurred on Sept. 2, 2018, around 4 a.m. when Gage Good Rider and his girlfriend D.J. Longtime Squirrel were walking along Highway 5. The two were not able to secure a ride home, after Longtime Squirrel’s vehicle had broken down earlier in the day. The two had consumed a large amount of alcohol, smoked some crystal meth and shared fentanyl.

White Quills is on trial for one count of failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death. He was not charged until four months after Good Rider was killed.

Defense lawyer Balfour Der asked his client first about his background. White Quills worked in construction on and off as a housing framer, has several siblings, a child of his own, and stepchildren with a common law partner. He also told the court he took part in Canadian Professional Rodeo Association circuits in tie-down roping and steer riding.

On Sept. 2, he was taking part in one of those rodeo events. Prior to the competition, he consumed two beers, while after the event, he drank another one or two. He and two friends then bought another 15-pack of beer and consumed a few before going to Ribfest at Galt Gardens. From there, the men went to strip club Top Hat, where White Quills drank one or two additional beers. Later in the evening the trio attended a nightclub called Sound Garden where he drank several more beers.

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As the club closed down the three got into the truck that belonged to White Quill’s parents and drove to a 7-Eleven where they were involved in a minor collision. White Quill’s friend Colten had been driving even though he testified he’d been severely impaired. After the fender bender, White Quills took over driving.

As he was travelling along Highway 5 south of Lethbridge, he began accelerating where he believed the speed limit changed from 60 km/hr to 80 km/hr. White Quills then turned to look at his friend, then down to adjust the dial on the truck’s radio. It was at that time, he testified a “really big bang” occurred, and part of the truck’s grill went up and over the vehicle.

White Quills admitted that he did not stop, did not slow down, and did not inquire about what he might have hit. He told the court at first, he thought it might have been a parked motorcycle, but quickly dismissed that possibility; instead believing he’d hit a deer. He continued driving for fear that the truck might not start again once stopped, and what the consequences of that might be if his parents found out.

On a prior occasion, White Quills said he’d hit a deer and that the radiator was destroyed, rendering his vehicle unusable. He also told the court he was in a truck travelling 100 km/hr when a friend of his struck a woman who ran into the road, telling his lawyer that it felt like they’d run over a dog or coyote. He didn’t believe that night he’d hit a person, because it felt more like the deer incident.

The following day, he inspected the red Dodge, and was shown several social media reports by others indicating a person had been hit. He went to a local rodeo to speak with his parents and began drinking beer again. After conferring with his sister who told him not to go to police, he decided to go the next day instead.

During cross examination by Crown counsel Erin Olsen, White Quills was told accident reconstructionists pegged his speed at between 31 km/hr and 51 km/hr over the posted speed limit.

“You know you were speeding, right?” She asked.

“Yes,” he responded.

She questioned why he had gotten behind the wheel in the first place, and was told that he felt fine, and it had “worked before.”

Olsen also asked whether he had seen Eric Godlonton on the opposite side of the road, trying to wave him down. He had not.

“You didn’t slow down,” she pressed.

“No,” White Quills answered.

“You didn’t brake.”

“No.”

“You didn’t stop,” she continued.

“No.”

White Quills in fact, did not stop his vehicle until he was 40 kilometres away from the accident scene. He then woke one of his friends, who took over the driving.

Olsen suggested then that the panic he felt after the collision was not just because he was upset over what White Quills’ parents would do, but also what would happen to him if police were called.

White Quills then admitted he was worried about getting a DUI or would be cited for reckless driving.

During closing arguments, the defense argued that the Crown had failed to prove mens rea, or, the action or intention that someone has committed a crime, while the Crown argued that if White Quills thought even for a moment he’d hit another vehicle, or a person, he had a duty under the law to stop his vehicle, provide assistance and find out what happened. It was “willful blindness,” Olsen said that with respect to what happened, equated to the knowledge and intent of his actions.

The defense, however, told Pharo, “there needs to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt, not speculation.”

Judge Pharo reserved his decision pending additional Crown submissions and Defense responses. The matter will be back in court for a decision May 7.