Driver hit with fine for apartment complex crash

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 24, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

A Medicine Hat man whose speeding car smashed a row of back decks of an apartment complex last spring was fined $750 for careless driving on Thursday in Medicine Hat provincial court.

Police estimated the damage at the apartment block, which backs on to Maple Avenue near the curve coming off the Allowance Avenue overpass, was about $100,000.

Prosecutors say the vehicle was travelling between 80 and 90 km/h in the 50 km/h zone, when it left the road, crashed through a fence and damaged the building in March 2022.

The driver, Kobe Goldsmith, of Medicine Hat, was originally charged with dangerous driving, but this week pleaded guilty to the lesser charge after discussions between his attorney, Lyndon Heidinger, and prosecutors.

“It appears to be an irregularity in his behaviour,” said Crown prosecutor Brian Shantz.

Judge Fredericks accepted the plea and set a deadline of August 31 to pay the fine.