13°c Light rain showers
17°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Driver hit, killed cyclist, fled in 'panic'
A Winnipeg motorist says "panic" caused him to flee after he struck and killed a cyclist, and he will forever regret the cowardly act.
Mike Haines, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act and to leaving the scene of an accident under the Criminal Code. The Crown agreed to drop a more serious charge of criminal negligence causing death.
Haines was in court Friday for sentencing, where the Crown requested up to nine months behind bars. Defence lawyer Mike Cook argued for a hefty fine, probation and community service. Provincial court Judge Ray Wyant has reserved his decision.
"There are no words I can express to let you know how sorry I am," Haines told the victim's husband, two children and two grandchildren who were in court. "Who would know two to three seconds could change people's lives forever?"
Linda Preston, 42, was riding her bike in the early morning of June 17, 2010, when she was hit by a vehicle near Main Street and Sutherland Avenue. She was rushed to hospital but died of her injuries. An autopsy revealed she was intoxicated at the time, with more than triple the maximum blood-alcohol level allowed to drive a vehicle. She was also wearing dark clothing and had no reflective lights on her bike.
However, Haines admitted he took his eyes off the road for several seconds and never saw Preston in his path. Her body slammed against his windshield and flew nearly 10 metres through the air, court was told. Haines drove away from the scene, travelling several blocks, removed an unopened case of beer from his car and then returned to the area six minutes after the crash.
"He thought it would look bad to have a case of beer in his vehicle," Cook told court Friday. But he said his client, who was on his way home from work at a hotel, hadn't consumed any alcohol.
"Every day he's going to look in the mirror and see the reflection of the person who killed Linda Preston. I don't think he's ever going to be able to shake this," Cook said.
Haines confessed, telling police he didn't see Preston until it was too late.
Crown attorney Jeff Nichols said Friday a message must be sent to Haines and other motorists that this sort of conduct has serious consequences.
"A punitive sanction that involves jail is necessary," he said.
www.mikeoncrime.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2012 A13
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
05/24/2013 9:17 PM 0Manitoba public school teachers have voted to donate $1.5 million to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in return for ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- City's first urban reserve born
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- City set to seize derelict hotel
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- Accused fraudster fights extradition to U.S.
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Witness changes story of killing
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- City's first urban reserve born
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- The end of the credit card?
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- City's first urban reserve born
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Better PTSD treatment for RCMP urged
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Armed forces buys buses from Motor Coach
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Accused fraudster fights extradition to U.S.
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- Athletes could sit under new school rules
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Fishing for fashion
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- City's first urban reserve born
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- North End proud
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.