The Estevan Police Service (EPS) has announced that charges have been laid against the motorist who was involved in the fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision last October in downtown Estevan.
Metro Ignatiuk, 68, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, under the Criminal Code.
The accident occurred on Oct. 6, 2015.
Kathy Batke, 69, and an unnamed man, aged 74, were using the mid-block pedestrian crossing in the 1200-block of Fourth Street when they were struck by a pickup truck driven by Ignatiuk. Batke and the unnamed man were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, and then were airlifted to a hospital in Regina for further treatment.
Batke died of her injuries in the hospital in Regina on Oct. 8.
The man suffered extensive injuries in the accident, and has been hospitalized in Regina since then. He is expected to be released soon.
Estevan police Chief Paul Ladouceur noted the man has spent an extensive amount of time in the Wascana Treatment Centre.
“There are some ongoing injuries resulting from the accident,” Ladouceur told the Mercury in an interview last week. “Without getting too specific into the injuries, because it is still an ongoing investigation, but the person suffered severe injuries that will no doubt be life-lasting injuries.”
The charges were filed on March 31, but were not made public until April 8.
Police have received some criticism for not pressing charges sooner, but Ladouceur stressed the investigation was a time-consuming process.
“When we do these types of investigations, we have to go through all the evidence, and that involves all kinds of evidence,” said Ladouceur. “It includes post-mortem examinations, coroner’s reports and reviewing the data that is collected from the scene through accident reconstruction information.”
They also consulted with the crown prosecutors before proceeding with any charges. And they had to decide whether to charge Ignatiuk under the Criminal Code or the Traffic Safety Act (TSA).
Ladouceur said they were never leaning towards TSA charges.
“In this case, with all the evidence that’s been obtained to this point, it was felt that the charges certainly fell within the Criminal Code,” said Ladouceur.
The investigation remains before the courts, so Ladouceur said he couldn’t discuss the evidence, and why the EPS believes the charges should be under the Criminal Code.
“It is important to note he has been charged. He has not been convicted,” said Ladouceur.
Ignatiuk is scheduled to appear in court on May 16.
