Six Nations man stands trial in the death of two youth

HAMILTON – A no-jury trial has begun this week for Travis Squire-Hill who stands accused of two counts of criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle causing death, criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, two counts of impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, failure to remain at the scene of an accident, driving while disqualified, theft of motor vehicle and breach of probation.

On what would have been Gwen Martin’s 20th birthday, her family and friends instead sat somberly at the John Sopinka Courthouse in Hamilton on Monday to hear heartbreaking witness testimonies of Martin’s final hours.

On an unseasonably mild night on December 3, 2012, Adam Bain, 19, of Hagersville, Yegwenyes ‘Gwen’ Martin, 18, of Ohsweken and William Harris, 15, of Hagersville were traveling westbound on 4th Line Road. Bain and Martin were on an all-terrain vehicle, owned and operated by Bain while Harris was riding a dirt bike. A white pick-up truck, allegedly driven by Squire-Hill collided with the ATV and the dirt bike.

Martin was pronounced dead at the scene and Harris also died as a result of his injuries.

Adam Bain, was called to testify on this horrific accident. Bain told the court that Gwen Martin had invited him to lunch at the Burger Barn on the afternoon of December 3, 2012. When asked on what his relationship to Martin was, Bain explained that the dinner was their first date. That afternoon, Bain picked Martin up at her home on his ATV and they had lunch at the Burger Barn, where Martin was also an employee.

After the dinner, Bain realized that his ATV was not functioning properly so he had called his father to come and pick up him and his ATV. Afterwards, they, along with Martin went to Hagersville to a friend of Bain’s where they waited on a part to fix the ATV and watched a movie. A friend of Bain’s, William Harris was also at the home.

After the ATV was fixed, Bain then offered to drive Martin back home to Ohsweken. Harris told Bain that he shouldn’t drive back alone and offered to drive his Suzuki dirt bike to accompany him.

When asked what the last thing he remembered was, Bain stated, “As we approached the intersection of 4th Line and Tuscarora Road, we slowed down and I downshifted into third gear to see if anyone was coming. Next thing I remember I was face down on the side of the road and my helmet had flew off.”

CUTLINE8_1Harris was riding on his dirt bike in front of Bain and was struck as well. Both Martin and Harris succumbed to their injuries.

When asked what injuries he sustained in the accident, Bain explained, “My ankle was completely shattered, I had a compressed spine, 7 stitches to my face, 5 staples to the back of my head, cracked pelvis, two fractured discs, 9 screws, 2 plates and I’m currently in rehab.”

“I relive it almost every night,” stated Bain.
Another witness that testified Monday is a Six Nations man who was working an evening shift on the day of the accident. Along with fellow co-workers, they had stopped at a restaurant in Ohsweken for a bite to eat. On returning to work, they drove past the accident. The witness stated he seen a white pick up truck in the ditch at 4th Line and Tuscarora Road. The truck was on the north side and to the left of Tuscarora Road. He also stated he noticed a black Chevy Trailblazer parked along the south side of Tuscarora Road at 4th Line.

“We didn’t stop for the accident. We kept driving down 4th Line, towards Highway 6. Next thing we knew, the Trailblazer passed us and it was going really fast. It turned right on Onondaga Road. We called the cops when we got back to work,” said the witness.

The trial also heard testimony on Monday from a woman that lived near to where the accident happened. She said she was watching television when she heard a loud bang. She went outside to see what happened and noticed a white pick up truck had struck a hydro pole. She also heard cries for help and after further investigating the accident, realized that the call wasn’t coming from inside the vehicle. She noticed a young man sitting on the side of the road, crying for help. He was sitting next to Martin. The witness broke down into tears after having been asked to describe what she saw. “The boy was covered in blood. I seen the girl. I knew who she was and I knew she was gone,” said the witness.

The witness also testified that she observed a small black ‘SUV-type’ vehicle parked along side of the road right after the accident happened and observed a man get out of the white pick up truck and enter the black vehicle on the back drivers side. “Then the car sped off towards Highway 6,” stated the woman.

The Crown is presenting its case this week and plans on calling on at least 15 eyewitness testimony including an accident reconstructionist.

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4 Comments

  1. Thank you for the story and helping to be my son’s voice. Much love, William’s mom

    1. Hugs to you and your entire family Beth. No parent should ever have to endure the pain and heartache of losing a child.

  2. cant wait to hear who was in the black SUV. Condolences to all families such a horrible accident that could of been prevented. People dont drink and drive.

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