The family of a Red Deer man killed in a collision while riding home in a taxi shared hugs and tears as the teenager who caused the crash pleaded guilty today.
Jonathon David Wood, 33, was killed on Nov. 2, 2013, when the taxi he was a passenger in was hit by another driver. Wood had been out at the bar that night following a squash tournament he helped organize. He chose to take a taxi home.
Tyler James Wilson, 19, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing death on Wednesday in Red Deer provincial court before Judge Darrell Riemer. He had entered a not guilty plea earlier this year.
Lorne Goddard, defence counsel for Wilson, said it had always been his intention to enter a guilty plea and take responsibility for his actions. Wilson had elected in February to be tried by Court of Queen’s Bench judge alone, starting with a preliminary inquiry scheduled for Wednesday.
Crown prosecutor Ed Ring did not read in the facts of the incident, choosing instead to read those in at the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2015.
While Wilson entered his plea, because no facts were read it wasn’t formally accepted by the court. Ring said upon the acceptance of the guilty plea, charges of impaired driving causing death will be withdrawn.
Wilson has been out on bail since Nov. 25, 2013.
A pre-sentence report will made ahead of the sentencing hearing.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com