There was no evidence former NHL player Rob Ramage was drinking in a car before he crashed, killing retired Chicago Blackhawk Keith Magnuson, a jury heard Tuesday.

The smell of alcohol inside the rented Chrysler Intrepid came from three crushed beer cans that exploded when the car collided with an SUV on Dec. 15, 2003, York police Det.-Const. Adam Stock told a court in Newmarket, Ont.

A police officer examines the rental car allegedly driven by Rob Ramage.
(Saul Porto/Canadian Press)

Ramage, 48, has pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges, including impaired and dangerous driving in the death of Magnuson, 56.

Michelle Pacheco, 39, suffered upper body injuries when her vehicle was struck head-on by the Intrepid.

York Det.-Const. Tim Kuttschrutter admitted that police received no reports of the Ramage car behaving "erratically" after he and Magnuson left a funeral reception.

A video played for jurors indicated Ramage travelled 25 kilometres along Highway 50 and Rutherford Rd.

Just before Pine Valley Dr. his car suddenly crossed into oncoming traffic.

Several York police officers have testified they smelled alcohol on Ramage's breath at the crash scene and more than two hours later at Etobicoke General Hospital, where he was treated for a leg injury.

But emergency room nurse Catherine Ramsay insisted Ramage never appeared drunk, and she never mentioned smelling booze in the nearly two hours she treated him immediately upon his arrival.

The trial continues.