Friend of man killed in Langley hit-and-run recalls tragedy 2011, dangerous, longtime, friends, charged

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Friend of man killed in Langley hit-and-run recalls tragedy
Brent Parent charged with dangerous driving causing death
Dan Burritt Sep 12, 2011 15:36:30 PM
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NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS1130) - Family and friends of Silas O'Brian cried quietly in BC Supreme Court in New Westminster today as longtime friend Sam Dooley testified about watching the 21-year-old get struck by a truck and die on a Langley road three years ago.

The accused, Brent Parent, is charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene of a crash, amongst five counts. He has pleaded not guilty.

Dooley says he, O'Brien and another friend were driving in Dooley's Chevy Silverado west on 16th Avenue near 258th around 2 a.m. on March 13, 2008, heading to Seattle to catch a flight to Hawaii for a vacation.

He says a large white Ford pickup truck slowed down in front of them and suddenly slammed on its brakes. When he went around the truck to pass it, the Ford sped up, and started pushing him off the road.

He says the two trucks touched each other and his was sent into the east ditch, flipping over as the Ford drove away.

Dooley says the trio climbed out the truck but eventually noticed the Ford had returned, this time eastbound on 16th.

Dooley says they waved their arms to get the truck to stop but it didn't and he had to jump out of the way.  He says moments later, he turned his head and saw the truck veer toward the shoulder, hit O' Brien and drive off.

"I saw the truck hit Silas," Dooley said calmly, saying he tried to find a pulse on Silas and resuscitate him, but wasn't able to.

Parent, wearing a dark suit and purple shirt, sat behind his lawyer appearing calm.

Earlier in the morning, a former New Westminster police officer working for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team at the time of the crash described various police photographs taken at the scene and images of O'Brien.

Crown counsel says a relative of Parent will testify, as will Parent's former girlfriend and the police officers who arrested him.

The Crown expects to finish its arguments by the end of this week.

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Silas O'Brien was 21 when he was run down by a truck and killed in Langley in March, 2008