Woman charged with dangerous driving causing death to stand trial

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on November 28, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 33-year-old woman charged in relation to a fatal collision with a pedestrian earlier this year is expected to set a trial date when her matter returns to court next month.
During a brief hearing Friday in Lethbridge court of justice, Lethbridge lawyer Justin Dean pleaded not guilty on behalf of the accused, Bobbi Raquel Whillans, to charges of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
Court was told the Crown and defence need more time to discuss details of the case and determine how much time will be required for trial, and the matter was adjourned to Dec. 8, ostensibly to set a trial date.
The charges stem from a collision at the intersection of 26 Avenue and 28 Street North about 3 p.m. on Jan. 17. A 66-year-old man died and a 62-year-old woman sustained life-threatening injuries and were taken to Chinook Regional Hospital and later transferred to Calgary by STARS.
Police said a GMC truck was travelling east on 26 Avenue North, and while turning onto 28 Street struck the pedestrians as they crossed the street in the crosswalk. The driver immediately stopped and called 911.
Defence and Crown had been discussing the possibility of resolving the case without a trial. Failing that, however, Dean previously advised a trial would likely take less than a day.
“It’s a significant charge; however, we’ve been discussing an abbreviated trial that would bring this down to an agreed statement of facts, and it could probably be concluded in a matter of three hours,” Dean said during a court hearing Oct. 25.

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