A woman who was banned by doctors from driving due to seizures pleaded guilty to a charge of causing injury by dangerous driving at Sherbrooke Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.
Forty months ago the accident happened at Sherbrooke. The woman then hit a pedestrian, who sustained serious injuries that could have resulted in her death.
Without a criminal record, the accused could benefit from a suspended sentence by showing genuine remorse.
On the afternoon of October 23, 2020, Carl Deveau was at the corner of Belvedere Sud and Prince Streets when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 67-year-old woman whose identity will be voluntarily suspended.
Unaware of the impact, the accused continued for several hundred meters before crashing into a vehicle at the intersection of Rue Thibault.
During their investigation, the police learned that the sixty-year-old woman was suffering from epilepsy and her neurologist had banned her from driving for six months.
Although it cannot be said without a doubt, the driver may have suffered a seizure in the hours leading up to the accident.
She may have a cognitive problem, a moment she didn't have when she got behind the wheel.
The woman pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing harm and made a sincere apology to the victim.
The 39-year-old victim has significant after-effects from his multiple injuries.
Had the incident happened minutes later, when many children were on the sidewalks and near the street after classes, it would have had even more tragic consequences.
Me Gabrielle Cloutier urges motorists; Driving while disqualified for medical reasons is a criminal offense that can have devastating consequences.
“Sentences with serious injuries like this are very rare. […]. However, you realize your actions and show moral guilt, I have to take this into account,” noted Judge Benoît Gagnon, who, following the general recommendation of the prosecutor, sentenced the woman to a two-year suspended sentence, 240 hours of probation. Community service and a 10-year driving ban.
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