Dangerous driving trial held for Whitehorse man who fatally ran over partner with tow truck

The case of a Whitehorse man who fatally ran over his partner with a tow truck in the parking lot of their Whistle Bend apartment last summer is now in the hands of a judge.

Jason Evans faces one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, a charge police laid against him after Joanne Felix, 42, was killed in the early hours of July 31, 2023.

Evans's judge-alone trial began in Yukon Territorial Court last week, with the Crown calling five witnesses over two days — all of them police officers who attended the scene or who were involved in the investigation — as well as playing a number of security-camera videos and Evans's frantic 911 call. 

The defence did not call any evidence. 

Both sides gave their closing arguments Wednesday, with Judge Michael Cozens reserving his decision to a later date. 

While Evans didn't take the witness stand, the security footage and a statement he gave to police helped outline the events that led up to Felix's death. 

Security cameras captured Evans and Felix returning to their apartment on Tarahne Way in his tow truck shortly before 3 a.m. that day. 

Evans, in his police statement, said that he'd been at his workshop when Felix was dropped off there. He told police that she'd been drinking and he decided to take her home, after which he intended to go back to work.

The security footage showed Evans and Felix entering their apartment together, with Evans leaving alone a few minutes later but Felix following closely behind. 

As Evans gets into his truck and starts it, Felix runs up and grabs onto the passenger's side door, walking alongside the vehicle as Evans slowly pulls the tow truck forward.

Security cameras from other buildings captured the truck driving, stopping and reversing several times, with Felix running next to or holding onto the vehicle before disappearing from view. Evans can then be seen exiting the truck and walking to the back of the vehicle. 

In the 911 call, an audibly distressed Evans begs for an ambulance and help, at one point telling the operator, "She's dying!" 

"Is she breathing?" the operator asked.

"No," Evans replied.