Survivor of collision in P.E.I. that killed partner has impaired driving case put over to fall
James B. Andrew was formally charged in April after New Year's Day crash
A man who police say was driving while impaired when his SUV left the road and killed his partner has had his case adjourned until the fall.
Court documents allege James B. Andrew of Stanley Bridge, P.E.I., had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit on Jan. 1 when the vehicle he was driving left Route 6 in Clinton and landed in a ditch.
RCMP said a woman in the passenger seat died at the scene. According to her obituary, the victim was Andrew's partner.
Andrew was arrested before being sent to hospital with serious injuries.
He was formally charged in April with two counts of impaired driving causing death. Andrew has since elected for his matters to be heard in P.E.I. Supreme Court.
The case was first called in that court on Thursday.
Andrew's lawyer said the defence was requesting medical records and would need time to review those before taking any further steps.
The case was adjourned until November. No pleas have been entered and the allegations have not been proven in court.
If the case does go to trial, Andrew has opted for the matter to be heard by a judge alone without a jury.
P.E.I. Supreme Court cases often carry the heaviest penalties for first-time impaired drivers, and the court's judges often bemoan the elevated rates of impaired driving in the province.
It's one of two impaired driving causing death cases currently before the higher court. Another man has been accused of impaired driving causing death related to a crash at the "Albany Y" intersection a year ago that killed two people in their 20s.
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