Woman fined in pedestrian death

A Prince George woman charged in the death of a pedestrian was ordered Friday to pay a $1,200 fine.

Sherry Leigh Price, 63, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention under the Motor Vehicle Act in relation to the Sept. 27, 2016 death of Justin Andrew Frederick, 24.

Judge Michael Gray did not impose a driving prohibition on Price and instead left the decision in the hands of ICBC. An offence of driving without due care and attention carries a penalty of six points on an individual’s license. Gray made this decision because the incident was acknowledged by both Crown and defence counsel as unintentional, and because he said he did not see evidence of a high level of disregard.

He also acknowledged that Price stayed at the scene of the accident in order to speak to police and that glare from the sun had likely played a factor in the accident.

“In the matter of the Motor Vehicle Act, this is on that lower end of the scale,” said Gray.

Crown prosecutor Rick Smith described the incident, which occurred at a crosswalk on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Lacoma Street. He noted that Price was travelling well below the speed limit at the time. There was no indication of drugs or alcohol in her system, nor was there any indication of distracted driving due to cellphone use. Price also had no previous Motor Vehicle Act infractions on her file.

An impact statement written by the father of Frederick was read aloud by Smith. The statement noted that Frederick died two weeks before his 25th birthday. Members of Frederick’s family, seated in the front row of the gallery, dabbed their eyes with tissue as it was read.

Price also read a statement to the court. She expressed remorse for the death of Frederick.

“I do not have the words to express how profoundly sorry I am to the family of Justin Frederick,” Price said.

“The fact that I have taken their loved one from them will be my burden for the rest of my life.”