Guilty plea expected in case of car hitting woman
A senior charged with driving into a young woman in a North Kamloops crosswalk, seriously injuring her, is expected to plead guilty on Thursday, March 21, in Kamloops provincial court.
Merle Peter Michels, 85, is charged with driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention in connection to a Sept. 7, 2012, accident.
On that day, 20-year-old Chloe Jasmine Demers — also known as Chloe Ardile — suffered life-threatening injuries and spent several weeks in a medically induced coma after being hit by a car as she crossed Tranquille Road at Leigh Street while in a crosswalk.
The driver of the vehicle allegedly ran a red light and struck Demers.
On March 7, Michels’ lawyer, Rob Bruneau, requested the delay in Kamloops provincial court so he could confer with the Crown prosecutor assigned to the case.
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 the woman’s behalf, Demers 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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