Man charged in fatal traffic collision in September enters guilty pleas

Guilty pleas were entered Thursday by a Medicine Hat man over a truck theft and dangerous driving that ultimately caused the death of an 18-year-old woman.

Cody David Michell, 25, pled guilty to two counts of hit-and-runs, dangerous driving causing death, having a stolen vehicle and attempting to disarm a police officer.

Sentencing was adjourned until Jan. 15, 2018, with defence counsel requesting that multiple reports be put together on his client, including a pre-sentencing report, Gladue report and psychological report which will include a risk assessment.

In the meantime, Crown and defence will also work to put together an agreed statement of facts.

Michell also pled guilty to a separate incident which led to charges of assault and assaulting a police officer.

Michell remains in custody, and appeared by CCTV from the Medicine Hat Remand Centre.

Michell is accused of stealing a pickup truck on Sept. 11, fleeing in it at a high rate of speed, causing a collision at the intersection of 12th Street NE and Division Avenue, then continuing to drive down 12th Street at an extreme speed until colliding with a Toyota Camry at Parkview Drive.

The driver of the Camry, Cerys Passmore, was pronounced dead at the scene.

When taken to hospital, Michell attempted to pull an officer’s pistol from the holster, but was prevented from doing so and brought under control by the officer and medical staff.