GORE BAY—The man accused in the July 20, 2018 hit and run that left a Sheguiandah woman with serious injuries pleaded guilty in Gore Bay court December 2.
The 26-year-old woman was walking home from a birthday party at approximately 3 am on Friday, July 20 when she was struck by a vehicle on the Sheguiandah First Nation. The driver was 34-year-old David Doucette of Sheguiandah First Nation. Mr. Doucette fled the scene but was later arrested by officers with the Ontario Provincial Police who charged the man with impaired driving. At that time, the officers didn’t know the tragedy that had just occurred and from which Mr. Doucette was apparently fleeing.
Officers with the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) Anishnaabe Police Service were attending a separate incident, also in Sheguiandah First Nation, when they learned of the hit and run. Police then changed the charge against Mr. Doucette to ‘driving while ability impaired causing bodily harm.’
Mr. Doucette, of Sheguiandah First Nation, pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired causing bodily harm. Mr. Doucette was sentenced to 1,003 days in jail, less 752 days’ credit for pre-sentence custody, leaving 251 days to serve.
The 36-year-old woman is still recovering from her extensive injuries.
