By Chelsea Laskowski

Guilty pleas entered, bail denied in police pursuit crash

Dec 23, 2014 | 6:39 AM

One teenage boy has admitted his guilt for driving a stolen truck, fleeing police, and hitting a car within city limits while doing so.

However, he pleaded guilty to only five of the seven charges laid after the Dec. 15 incident. The Crown prosecutor agreed to withdraw two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The chase started in Prince Albert late at night that Saturday after police spotted a white truck driving through red lights at dangerous speeds, according to the Prince Albert Police Service.

This was after the officers had been called to a school break-in and police were told by witnesses that people left in a white truck.

As the truck sped away, it ran at least one red light, police reports stated. The truck’s next attempt to run a light ended in a serious crash.

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Parkland Ambulance described the injuries of two people in the other vehicle as minor.

However, the injuries of one victim were visible as she attended the bail hearing for the 17-year-old alleged driver on Monday. The young woman now has stitches across her face and moved stiffly as she left the courtroom.  

As a young offender, the teen cannot be named and the details of his bail hearing are subject to a publication ban.

The young woman’s family and the father and uncle of the other young man who was injured were present in court.  

Bail was denied to the teen, who stood silently and staring forward during the hearing. The slightly built teen wore a grey outfit as his legal aid counsel, Estelle Hjertaas, spoke on his behalf.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while being pursued by police, break and enter with intent, and possession of stolen property.

With the pleas now entered, there will be no trial. The 17-year-old’s next court appearance will be for sentencing.  He’ll stay in custody until then.

The father and uncle of the man hit by the stolen truck expressed relief that the will put the court process behind them.

They declined to comment on the record because the young man asked them not to, since he didn’t feel his healing process would be aided by speaking to media. The young woman and her family also declined to comment.

Others accused in case

The other 17-year-old accused in the case was granted bail on Monday.

He is also protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, meaning his name can’t be published.

That teen boy’s bail conditions consist of reporting to a youth worker and operating under an 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew unless given permission by his parents, grandparents or parole officer.

He must reside with his grandparents or parents and have no contact with five other people, one of them being the driver of the truck.

This co-accused teen did not enter pleas to the charges of break and enter, being an occupant in a motor vehicle knowing it was taken without consent, and breach of youth court orders.

During the driver’s bail hearing, the court heard there are people facing charges related to the incident.

-With files from Sarah Stone and James Bowler

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk