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Teen pleads guilty in fatal crash

Nineteen-year-old pleads guilty to dangerous driving causing death in connection with March 10 crash.
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An Abbotsford man has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death charges laid in connection with a March 10 crash that killed one person.

An Abbotsford man has pleaded guilty to two offences in relation to a fatal crash that took place in March.

Brandon Mitchell James Hayes, 19, pleaded guilty Thursday in Abbotsford provincial court to dangerous driving causing death and possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Two additional charges – dangerous driving causing bodily harm and theft over $5,000 – are expected to be stayed.

A pre-sentence report is scheduled to be presented in court on Sept. 8. Sentencing could take place that day or be scheduled for a later date.

The crash in which Hayes was the driver took place just before 4:30 a.m. on March 10 in the area of Wells Line and Smith Line roads on Sumas Prairie.

Police and other first responders arrived on the scene to find a rolled-over 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup.

The vehicle had been travelling west on Wells Line Road, veered off the road and through a fence, and came to rest in the front yard of a home.

Two men were still in the vehicle, and one of them, a passenger in the back seat, was pronounced dead on the scene.

The other man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A 14-year-old girl who had been in the vehicle was found a short distance from the scene and was also transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A third male was located in a nearby outbuilding and was not seriously injured.

The Toyota Tacoma was confirmed as being stolen from central Abbotsford three days before the crash.

Hayes is also scheduled to go to trial Aug. 20 on a charge of uttering threats the day before the crash.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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