By Gerry Harvieux

A 22 year veteran of the Detroit Emergency Medical Service was killed in a two vehicle crash at the corner of Queen Street and Middle Line just around 11 am Christmas morning.

William Garlington, 45, was travelling south on Queen Street toward Middle Line in his Chrysler 300 when, according to a witness, he failed to stop for the stop sign. As he travelled through the intersection he was struck broadside by a Ford pickup truck heading West on Middle Line.

The pickup’s driver,32, his wife, 31, and three daughters ages eight, six and one were all taken to Chatham-Kent Health Alliance where they were treated for minor injuries before being released. Garlington, who had to be extricated from the vehicle by an emergency response team, was dead at the scene.

According to police, Garlington was a Detroit resident but also owned a cottage in Wheatley. It is believed he was heading there at the time of the crash.

A paramedic for 22 years, Garlington was a trustee of the Detroit Emergency medical Services Association Board, and the father of two daughters aged 11 and nine.

“William was an integral part of furthering our organization to where it is today. His many years as a paramedic and instructor allowed our membership to realize how important he was to bringing good to our organization,” DEMSA president Wiesam Zeineh said. “I can't emphasize enough how difficult this will be for us all to recover from. This has left us wounded with broken hearts and sad souls but his spirit will live on in all that he touched and carry us through this difficult time. I implore all of you to talk about William and remember him so that his memory will live strong in our history."  

A judge was expected to rule yesterday on bail for 29 year-old John H. Leverton of Merlin, arrested two days after Christmas on aggravated assault and assault with a weapon charges after a three year-old was hospitalized with several fractures due to injuries sustained some time before Christmas Day.

Chatham-Kent Police arrested Leverton Dec. 27th after the mother of a three year-old Chatham boy and her fiance brought the child to police headquarters in Chatham with unknown injuries. He was immediately taken to the Cha-tham-Kent Health Alliance and was later transferred to hospital in London with numerous fractures and other injuries.

“The child had a possible fractured right ankle, possible fractured rib, facial injuries including an abrasion under his chin that didn’t appear to be a rug burn and a possible baseline skull fracture,” Constable Michael Pearce, media relations officer for the C-K Police, said Monday morning.

Cnst. Pearce explained that the three year-old boy was visiting with people known to his mother from Dec. 11th through the 24th. Any specific details of the relationships between the mother and anyone else involved is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, though it did not appear as though the child was in the direct care of Leverton at the time of the alleged assault. The name of the child has been banned from publication.

Police said it appears as though his mother had no reason to believe the child was in any danger prior to the day he returned home and was visiting with her knowledge and permission.

Police executed a search warrant at a Merlin address on Boxing Day and arrested Leverton the day after that. He was held in custody through the New Year’s holiday. Though he was in court Thursday with his lawyer Dec. 31st, Leverton was unable to make a bid for bail after the court ran out of time for his hearing.

Pearce confirmed Monday morning that Leverton was expected in court Monday or Tuesday for his bail hearing but could provide no details on the child’s condition or if he was still in hospital in London.