Driver charged in accident to enter plea in March
The senior charged with a driving offence after a pedestrian was hit and seriously injured in a North Kamloops crosswalk last year is scheduled to return to court on March 7.
Merle Peter Michels is charged with driving without due care and attention in relation to the September accident that saw 20-year-old Chloe Jasmine Demers suffer life-threatening injuries and spend several weeks in a medically induce coma.
It is expected the 85-year-old Michels will enter a plea at the March hearing.
Demers, also known as Chloe Ardiles, was in a crosswalk at Fortune Drive and Fort Avenue on Sept. 7, 2012, when she was hit by a car alleged to have blown through a red light.
Late last month, Demers' family filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court seeking money to cover loss of income, loss of earning capacity, future care costs and general damages, among other claims.
According to the notice of claim filed on Demers' behalf, the woman suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, a broken tibia and fibula, multiple lacerations, abrasions and bruises to her entire body, a blown pupil and an ACL injury to her left knee.
The document claims she has been left with scars on her head and body and now suffers seizures, pain, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and headaches.
According to the document, Michels was speeding when he allegedly ran the red light and failed "to take reasonable steps to avoid a collision" with Demers.
There is no dollar amount listed in the document.
Michels has yet to file a response.
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