N.S. woman fined in accident that killed five people
By BEVERLEY WARE South Shore Bureau
Wed. Feb 13 - 5:03 PM
BRIDGEWATER – Roberta Haines has admitted crossing a double solid line in an accident that killed five people last May, including her own daughter.
Ms. Haines, 54, was not in Bridgewater provincial court this morning to enter the plea. She is apparently back in hospital for ongoing treatment of injuries she suffered in the accident. Crown attorney Lloyd Tancock said an automatic conviction was entered late last year under the Motor Vehicle Act, but Ms. Haines had requested it be set aside.
But Mr. Tancock said he spoke with her Halifax lawyer Tuesday and Alex Keaveny said he is no longer opposing the automatic conviction.
Judge Anne Crawford immediately reinstated the conviction and gave Ms. Haines until April 9 to pay the $279.50 fine.
The ticket was issued Oct. 30, 2007, alleging Ms. Haines, who lives in Halifax, drove to the left of the double solid line on Highway 103 at the Blockhouse exit. She was driving a blue four-door 1996 Taurus owned by Dale Melanson.
Five people died in the accident and Ms. Haines was left in a coma for days.
When she woke, she learned her daughter Raella Haines, 22, who had been sitting beside her in the front, had been killed. Also killed were the four people who had been on the two motorcycles she hit: Gary Clarence Robar, 57, of Upper Branch, his daughter, Tanya Lousie Robar, 33, of Pine Grove, his common-law wife, Ann Louise Jodrey-Mailman, 57, and Ms. Robar's fiance, Mike Everett, 40.
Mr. Robar's son, Shawn Robar, is suing Roberta Haines, claiming she was speeding, driving recklessly and may have been impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the May 27 accident. In a defence filed with the Supreme Court in Bridgewater, Ms. Haines says such a claim is “frivolous and vexatious” and that Mr. Robar's father was the one at fault.
Shawn Robar is also suing Mr. Melanson alleging he failed to keep his car in proper working order.
