Delta woman charged with impaired driving in girl's death

After nearly seven months, the Crown has laid four charges against a woman in the death of a four-year-old girl in a car crash in Delta, B.C.

Thecounts against Carol Berner, 56,allege impaired driving causing death and bodily harm and dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, Delta police said Thursday.

Berner will appear in court on Feb. 9.

The crash occurred on May 17 in the 4300 block of 64th Street in Delta, a suburb of Vancouver.

Alexa Renee Middelaer, 4, was hit by a carwhile she was petting a horse on the side of a rural road with her aunt, who was also injured. Alexa later died in hospital.

The vehicle then rammed into a parked car, whichAlexa's grandparents were in, and came to restagainst ahydro pole.The grandparents also suffered minor wounds.

Delta police Const. Sharlene Brooks said it wasn't possible tocharge the driver until now.

"There was insufficient evidence at the time to support an impaired driving charge," she said.

"But subsequently, as a result of all the investigative strategies that we've employed, we were able to gather the evidence to support these charges."

'Watch this case'

Alexa's mother, Laurel Middelaer, said she wants society and the courts to take a strong stance against impaired drivers.

"We want you to watch this case. We want you to watch it as it proceeds through this criminal justice system," she said.

Both Middelaer and her husband, Michael, said they have studied previous cases of impaired driving causing death and are not happy with the sentences handed down by the judges.

"There's a great gap between what people want and what people are receiving today from the criminal justice system in this particular area. We have very strong opinions on that," Michael Middelaer said.

Delta police said Berner still holds a valid B.C. driver's licence while her case proceedsto court.