Family talks about fatal crash

We now know the names of a married couple who were killed in a crash this past Friday. 35-year old Keith Burrows and his wife 26-year old Nicole died when their car veered off South Service Road in Stoney Creek. And now the family of the driver is hoping to clear up some details of their son’s death.

Judith Burroughs: “When they say speed is a factor, or alcohol is a factor, it does not mean, or people should not first assume that the driver was speeding or he was drunk.”

Five days after losing their son and daughter-in-law, Judy and Peter Burroughs now look after their grand kids — 8-year old Paige, and 5-year old Nathan.

“I know Keith well enough to know. And I’ve talked to him many times about this, about drinking and driving. I mean he’s pretty responsible. He knows he’s got a family.”

It was just before 10 last Friday night when the car Keith was driving veered off the road. Keith was killed instantly. Nicole died later in hospital. The two had just left a bar, and police are investigating the possibility that Keith had too much to drink.

Hamilton police have not released any of the details as to why they think the car came off the road on this curve on the South Service Road. Initially they had said that speed and alcohol may be factors and when asking them today, they said toxicology reports have not come back, and that they cannot rule out speed or alcohol.

Peter Burroughs says there is a much more likely narrative: “Chances are that he fell asleep at the wheel.”

He says that Keith was an avid fisherman. A hobby that would at times cut into his sleep.

Peter Burroughs: “It’s very typical for him to come off of work. Work a full day, and then go fishing half the night, grab a couple hours sleep and go back to work the next day.”

According to a friend, the couple had been watching the Maple Leafs game at this Buffalo Wild Wings location on Centennial Parkway. This same friend said that Keith had at least two, 22 ounce beers with dinner. The group decided to head home around 9:30. Keith and Nicole were on their way to their grandmothers to pick up the kids. But they never arrived.

We won’t find out for three to six weeks what the results are of that toxicology report. In the meantime the family will say goodbye to Keith and Nicole at a service this Sunday and Bay Gardens Funeral Home at two o’clock.