2 friends testify at accused drunk driver’s trial

Two friends who were with a young man accused of drunk driving that killed a father and teen daughter testified at his trial on Thursday.

Sabastian Prosa was 19 when police say he drove the wrong way on a QEW ramp on Highway 427 in Mississauga on August 5, 2012, hitting a minivan head-on. Jayantha Wijeratne, 49, and his 16-year-old daughter, Eleesha, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosa pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.

Friends Francesco Turano and Josh Medeiros testified they were with Prosa that night. By their accounts, Prosa may have had as many as six shots of vodka at Turano’s house and another three shots later that evening at the Toronto Skybar between 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

Medeiros met Prosa at Turano’s house where he had four shots at the house and three shots at the Skybar. He says Prosa drank vodka at the house but wasn’t sure sure how much and that Posa had three shots at the bar.

Turano says he had six shots of vodka at the house and believes Prosa had about the same amount or less.

The three were dropped off at the bar by friends. Turano and Medeiros lost track of Prosa at around 12:30 a.m. and looked for him around 2:30 a.m. when they were ready to leave the bar. They tried calling him three times and texted him. But finally left for home around 3 a.m. in a cab.

At 2:50 a.m. Prosa hits his SUV head-on with the minivan.

On Wednesday, Prosa told the court that he went out with friends and had four shots of alcohol, after which he lost his memory and isn’t sure what else he may have consumed. He maintains that someone spiked his drink.

The trial continues on Tuesday when the defence is expected to ask two doctors to testify, including a toxicologist.

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