What Happened That Morning
Clark, 55, was struck and killed on the morning of March 23 at the intersection of Cedarview Drive and Kennevale Road in Barrhaven. He was wearing reflective safety gear and holding a stop sign while helping a mother and two children cross the street when he was hit.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Wright was driving a Toyota Tundra pickup truck southbound on Cedarview Road at approximately 8:19 a.m. when he turned left through the intersection, striking Clark from behind and driving over him as he continued eastbound on Kennevale Drive.
Wright briefly returned to the scene before getting back into his truck and leaving without providing assistance or identification. Surveillance video helped police identify the vehicle and the suspect, and Wright was arrested about 24 hours after the crash.
The Verdict
Wright had already pleaded guilty in April to failing to remain at the scene of a hit and run.
What the Court Heard
The case turned on whether Wright's actions after the collision amounted to a marked departure from how a reasonable driver would behave. Defence lawyer Lawrence Greenspon argued the crash itself was a "tragic perceptual failure," not a marked departure from the standard of care expected of a reasonable driver.
Crown attorney Julian Daller pushed back on that framing, arguing it was Wright's actions after the impact that mattered most. Daller told the court that Wright continuing to accelerate despite feeling and seeing signs that he had run Clark over, without stopping, was not the behaviour of a reasonable person.
What's Next
Sentencing submissions in the case are scheduled to begin in November.
Sources: Yahoo News Canada (Ottawa Citizen wire), CP24
