A Lampman man pleaded guilty to failing to report an accident that left one man dead.
Mitchell Grimes, who is now 19, originally faced a much more serious charge after an accident in May 2011 led to a young man falling out of a bus Grimes was driving. He pleaded guilty to the charge under the Traffic Safety Act during Estevan provincial court on Nov. 22.
The incident occurred when the two men were attending a party in Oxbow. While at the party, the group was hanging out in a converted school bus with a couch. At some point, the partiers decided they wanted to go to another gathering in Alameda.
Grimes, who hadn't been drinking, was nominated to drive the bus.
The victim, Kyle McConnell, was a friend of Grimes and was standing by the door of the bus as they travelled. The bus hit a bump in the road, and because the doors weren't closed properly, they opened and McConnell fell out. He was then run over by the bus.
Grimes stopped the vehicle immediately and he and others got out to come to McConnell's aid. He was significantly injured, but was breathing. Emergency services were called and CPR was performed while they waited on an ambulance to arrive.
Grimes was worried and at the bequest of others at the scene, took the bus away, leaving others to help the victim.
Grimes' defence counsel noted the victim's family has been generous and has been understanding of the accident.
"(Grimes') parents and his family are very appreciative of the fact that they were very understanding that this was a tragic accident that unfortunately happened," said defence counsel.
What Grimes should have done, his counsel said, was to call the police and self report the accident.
The Crown and defence presented a joint submission for Judge Karl Bazin's approval. The fine was suggested to be $1,000, which is the maximum under the Traffic Safety Act. Grimes will also be under a six-month probation order and for the first 30 days is prohibited from driving, except for work purposes.
Bazin accepted the submissions.
