Prosecutors seek 7 years for driver with meth in system who caused fatal Manitoba crash - CBC

Kellie Verwey was killed in a crash on Manitoba's Highway 26 in the rural municipality of Portage la Prairie in January 2025. (Sharilyn Knox/Facebook)Social SharingTears flowed in a courtroom in Portage la Prairie, Man., on Friday as the loved ones of a woman killed in a crash involving a stolen truck and a driver with methamphetamine in his system told a judge how Kellie Verwey's death has changed their lives forever.

"There was so much ahead of her," Verwey's mom, Meechelle Best, read from a victim impact statement during an emotional hearing before Court of King's Bench Justice Scott Abel.

Best said she watched her daughter graduate with honours, fall in love and start a business. Now, she's mourning what could have been.

"The unfinished future weighs heavy on my heart," she told court. "When Kellie died, part of me died along with her."

Verwey, 28, was killed in a crash on Highway 26 on Jan. 15, 2025. James Lorne Bayley Hilton, now 26, later pleaded guilty to driving over the prescribed blood drug concentration causing death, and failing to stay at the scene.

Crown attorney Brendan Roziere asked for a total seven-year sentence, minus credit for time served. Hilton's lawyer, Brett Gladstone, asked for a sentence of between two and four years for the driving charge and a consecutive nine to 12 months for leaving the scene.

Some of Verwey's family spoke directly to Hilton during their victim impact statements. Her aunt Tricia Macdonald, who was among more than a dozen people who submitted statements, told Hilton she forgave him.

"Thank you," he replied in a quiet voice.

"I pray that you never forget Kellie, and that the price she paid for your choices [on] Jan. 15, 2025, changes your life for the better," Macdonald said as Hilton's lower lip trembled.

The crash pushed Verwey's family into advocating for changes to Canada's bail system, after police said Hilton was wanted at the time of the crash for failing to comply with a release order. That intensified after they said they learned Hilton, without permission, left the treatment centre he was released to after the crash.  

Kellie Verwey's family at a news conference at the Manitoba Legislative Building to discuss bail reform last year. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

Hilton's mother, Kristi Hilton, also addressed the court Friday, telling the judge she blames herself for her son's struggles with drug use — something she's also grappled with.

When given the chance to speak, Hilton read his own statement through tears at times, telling Verwey's family the crash that took her life has changed him.

"I understand that I'm in no position to ask for sympathy, remorse or forgiveness," he said. "But with all my heart, I'm deeply sorry."

Hilton's statement sparked an angry outburst from one of the people sitting with Verwey's family, who was then removed from the courtroom.

An agreed statement of facts read in court said Hilton, who was 25 at the time of the crash in the rural municipality of Portage la Prairie, lost control of the Ford F-150 truck he was driving, causing an oncoming truck to take "evasive action" to avoid a collision.

Verwey's vehicle hit the other truck, which ended up in a ditch. Tire marks later found at the scene suggested the F-150 had crossed into oncoming traffic before going into a ditch.

RCMP found Verwey unresponsive and bleeding when they arrived at the scene minutes later. She was pronounced dead at the scene, with her cause of death later determined to be blunt force injuries from the crash.

A witness reported seeing Hilton getting out of the truck he was in, before getting in another vehicle and leaving the scene — not stopping, providing identifying information or offering help, the agreed facts said.

When police later found and arrested Hilton, he "stated words to the effect of, 'I didn't know what to do. That's why I ran."

After the crash, police found several drug-related items in the truck Hilton was driving and on him when he was later arrested. He was carrying about 10 grams of methamphetamine and told police he had taken drugs.

A test later found about 1,130 nanograms of methamphetamine in Hilton's blood, which the facts said was "a very high amount."

A collision analyst concluded the crash happened because Hilton lost control of the vehicle he was driving, and Hilton admits his driving was a "significant contributing cause" of the crash that killed Verwey, the agreed facts said.

Abel is expected to deliver his sentencing decision next month.

Caitlyn Gowriluk has been writing for CBC Manitoba since 2019. Her work has also appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, and in 2021 she was part of an award-winning team recognized by the Radio Television Digital News Association for its breaking news coverage of COVID-19 vaccines. Get in touch with her at caitlyn.gowriluk@cbc.ca.