The first officer on the scene in a March 2011 fatal head-on crash on Highway 17 said he was "flabbergasted" that other officers arrested a Pembroke dentist so quickly after arriving at the scene, a court heard Tuesday.

OPP Const. David Dunfield was the first officer to arrive at the March 2011 crash that killed 50-year-old Brian Casey of Ottawa.

Pembroke dentist Dr. Christy Natsis is charged with impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death and exceeding the legal blood-alcohol limit in the crash.

Natsis has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Dunfield said Natsis appeared intoxicated. But he said he was still surprised when fellow officers arrested her at the scene without consulting with him.

Call to lawyer interrupted 4 times

Defence lawyer Michael Edelson also questioned police over a call Natsis made to a lawyer while in the bathroom at the Arnprior hospital.

The court heard police interrupted Natsis's call four times before eventually terminating the call.

Edelson argued in court that an accused has the right to legal advice from a lawyer and the police did not afford her that right.

OPP Sgt. Terrance McIntyre told the court police have only a limited time frame to collect blood alcohol samples, and said the Natsis phone call, which last for 45 minutes, was creating "an unreasonable delay."

McIntyre said Const. Ryan Bessner — who stopped the call — was concerned he may have done something wrong.

"But I agree with what he did," said McIntyre.

The trial continues Wednesday.