Kuzmich accused sentenced to Dangerous Driving

James Trakas, 42, was convicted of Dangerous Driving last week, in the death of Constable Alan Kuzmich.

On August 21, 2002, Trakas was visited by two men at his home wanting to look at a bike he had for sale. One of the men took off on the bike, the other in his truck, and Trakas pursued the thieves.

Trakas called 911 and informed the dispatch officer of his pursuit of the thieves and their direction, and Kuzmich, who heard about the chase on his radio, tried to set up a spike belt on Highway 11, also known as County Road 4.

The thief who took off on the motorcycle crashed in a ditch and died.

Trakas, still in the pursuit of the thieves, stuck and killed Kuzmich, who was in the middle of the road, laying the spike strip.

David Rose of Toronto testified he saw Kuzmich in the middle of the road in the dark and heard him get struck. He told the jury he told the police on the scene, and came in days later to give a written statement. The jury also listened to the 911 tapes, in which the dispatchers never told Trakas to stop the chase. In the transcripts, Trakas is told to "keep following" the thief.

No one could say why Kuzmich was in the road laying the spike strip, as the strips are attached to a rope and they are to be flung across the road, to keep the officer out of harms way.

Originally charged with Dangerous Driving Causing Death, Trakas will be sentenced on April 5th for Dangerous Driving.