Man in wheelchair, driver fined都坐轮椅了还要受罚

荣格 · 发表于 2011-7-23 11:58

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Pedestrian struck. Samuel Blennerhassett who was struck and nearly killed at Cawthra and Bloor two years ago arrived at Provincial Court today to attend the sentencing of the driver who hit him. Mr. Blennerhassett who now has to use a scooter was accompanied by his daughter and son-in law Sharon and William Hughes. Staff photo by Fred Loek

Two years ago, Samuel Blennerhassett was sentenced to life in a wheelchair.
The man who put him there after striking the 75-year-old Mississauga man while he was crossing the street, was sentenced to a fine of $500 this afternoon in a Burnhamthorpe Rd. courtroom.
By pleading guilty to making an unsafe turn under the Highway Traffic Act, Parthapratim Nath, 48, of Mississauga, avoided a jail sentence.
"This was a very poor judgement. He gets a fine, that's it," said Jorge Barriero, who witnessed the crash and stayed with a critically-wounded Blennerhassett until Peel Paramedics arrived that fateful morning.
"What does Sam get? He gets pain and suffering for the rest of his life while his family suffers."
Blennerhassett, who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of multiple fractures and broken bones sustained from the collision back on July 23, 2009, was in the Mississauga courtroom on Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. for the sentencing before Justice of the Peace Richard Quon.
Blennerhassett's wife, Frances, and daughter, Sharon Hughes, accompanied him to court and delivered emotional victim impact statements prior to sentencing.
"We were always travelling around the world, across Canada and the United States," his 68-year-old wife said, fighting tears. "This is no longer possible. My husband needs 24/7 care for the rest of his life. These were supposed to be our golden years."
Frances said her husband sustained two broken legs, a broken pelvis, broken ribs, among other injuries. He was hospitalized for nine months in life-threatening condition.
"He wasn't supposed to live that day," she said. "But he's still here, thankfully.
The couple have been forced to delve into their retirement savings to pay for some of the rehabilitation, she said.
Sharon Hughes said her father was an independent man prior to this incident.
"He took care of his family," she said. "Now, I take care of him because he can't take care of himself anymore."
Nath was initially charged with careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act and faced a potential jail term of six months if convicted.
Instead, Nath pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
The fine imposed by Quon is the maximum allowed under The Act.
Crown prosecutor Anthony Bruno and Nath's lawyer asked for a fine of $750, believing the maximum allowed was $1,000.
But, Quon corrected them and all parties settled on the $500 maximum.
"The court still wonders how Mr. Nath didn't see Mr. Blennerhassett when he was crossing the street," Quon said, noting the victim was wearing a bright red jacket at the time of the crash. "Was he (Mr. Nath) pre-occupied at the time with something else?"
Quon added the quality of driving on Peel roads has deteriorated with motorists becoming "less conscious of what they're doing, less polite and more pre-occupied" while becoming more aggressive.
After imposing the fine, Quon had a stern warning for Nath.
"Danger is just a moment away and then it's too late to react," he said. "You have to drive prudently and with care and attention."
Blennerhassett remained in critical condition at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto for weeks following the crash at Cawthra and Breckenridge Rds.
He was struck by Nath's northbound 2009 Honda Civic while crossing Cawthra Rd. at 8:45 a.m. He was walking his dog Angus, a Scottish Terrier, at the time.
The dog, now 10, wasn't injured. The impact of the crash caused the elderly man to flip over the Honda and be thrown several metres.
Nath stopped at the scene and was later interviewed by police.
Barreiro, 54, recalls holding the victim and trying to keep him awake and breathing.
"I was covered in his blood. I could feel the warmth of his blood on my legs," he said.
lrosella@mississauga.net

Victim to attend sentencing

Senior injured. Parthapratim Nath, 48, of Mississauga, was driving this Honda Civic when he struck an elderly man two years ago near Cawthra Rd. and Bloor St. File photo

A Mississauga man charged with careless driving in a crash that nearly killed an elderly pedestrian and left him with permanent injuries has avoided jail by pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
Samuel Blennerhassett, 76, who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of multiple fractures and broken bones sustained from the collision back on July 23, 2009, is expected to be in a Mississauga courtroom on Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. tomorrow as the man who caused his injuries gets sentenced.
Blennerhassett's daughter and wife will accompany him to court. Both women will give victim impact statements prior to sentencing.
Parthapratim Nath, 48, was initially charged with careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act and faced a potential jail term of six months if convicted.
Instead, Nath pleaded guilty making an unsafe turn, according to Peel Regional Police.
The maximum penalty is now a $1,000 fine.
Blennerhassett remained in critical condition at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto for weeks following the crash at Cawthra and Breckenridge Rds.
He was struck by a northbound 2009 Honda Civic while crossing Cawthra Rd. at 8:45 a.m. He was walking his dog at the time, Peel Regional Police said. The impact of the crash caused him to flip over the Honda and be thrown several metres.
Nath stopped at the scene and was later interviewed by police.

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