A Red Deer man has been sentenced to four years in prison for a hit-and-run collision that left a woman so badly injured that her leg had to be amputated.
William Joseph Cameron, 20, was sentenced in Red Deer provincial court on Monday afternoon after pleading guilty to flight from police causing bodily harm, driving while disqualified and impaired driving causing bodily harm. Several other charges were withdrawn.
Judge Jim Mitchell also prohibited Cameron from driving for seven years following his release from prison and he will be prohibited from owning any weapons for 10 years.
Leah Cobetto was struck at a crosswalk about 10 p.m. on Sept. 23 in Lacombe.
Blackfalds RCMP said that a short time before the crosswalk collision, an officer tried to pull over a northbound vehicle on Hwy 2 after it nearly side-swiped another vehicle. The officer turned on his emergency lights but the suspect vehicle didn’t stop and headed into Lacombe.
The family said Cameron’s car went around a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk on Lacombe’s main street and hit Cobetto. A STARS air ambulance took the 22-year-old to University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.
Her right leg was so badly damaged that doctors had no choice but to amputate.
The community rallied behind the young woman and set up a Facebook page to help raise funds for her that has nearly 700 members.
Reaction to the sentencing was swift. One person posted: “That’s it?!?!?!!!?” and suggested a lifetime driving ban was more appropriate.