Local woman had spent 16 hours in bar before deadly 401 crash

By Sean Macey

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (10/02/12) - An interim suspension sign from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is posted at the entrance of the Angry Beaver Bar and Grill located at the corner of Tucker's corners and Wallbridge-Loyalist Road. The bar's license was temporarily suspended over liquor violations linked to a deadly crash on the 401 on Monday . Photo by Melchizedek Maquiso.

The woman driving a car in the wrong lane of the 401 on Monday, resulting in a double-fatality, had spent 16 hours at a local bar before driving, says a spokesperson for the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission.

Ab Campion said Korin Howes, 23, arrived at The Angry Beaver Bar and Grill in Belleville on Wallbridge-Loyalist Road around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday for a Super Bowl party and didn’t leave until 9:30 the next morning.

The crash occurred Monday morning when Howes was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of the 401 and collided head-on with vehicle driven by Shaina Harrison, 23, of Oshawa between Aikins and Glen Miller roads.

Howes and Harrison were both killed in the crash.

“There was a young lady, a patron, in this facility (Angry Beaver) who apparently was drunk and basically got in a car and I believe led to that accident,” said Campion.

Howes graduated from the culinary program at Loyalist College with honours in 2009.

“Simply one of the most sincere, honest people I have ever had the honour of teaching. She was a natural in the kitchen a real chef in the making,” said Loyalist professor and chef John Schneeberger in an email. “Korin will be missed by all of us.”

Harrison was a first-year practical nursing student at Loyalist.

“She was one of those people who you could take a room full of strangers and make a complete family out of them,” said classmate Jennafer Bulley. “She always had a smile on her face, she was always happy.”

“Her biggest dream was to become a fantastic nurse, which she would have become as well,” said Bulley.

She said Harrison traveled from Oshawa every day and her friends often reminded her to be careful.

The Angry Beaver had its liquor license suspended Thursday afternoon because of Liquor Licence Act violations.

The bar had five violations in total: Selling or serving outside prescribed hours, failure to remove evidence of service, offering liquor free of charge, promoting immoderate consumption and permitting drunkenness.

It is currently an interim suspension with a notice of proposal to revoke the license permanently. The owners of the bar can appeal the alcohol commission’s decision to the Ontario License Appeal Tribunal.

Napanee OPP Cst. Tammy Coleman declined to comment.