Guilty verdict in fatal U-Haul hit-and-run that killed Kassandra Gartner

Peter Ashby was found guilty of seven charges in relation to the death of Kassandra Gartner. CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson reports.

The man accused of killing a 45-year-old mother with a U-Haul has been found guilty in her death.

On Monday a judge found Peter Ashby guilty on seven charges, including dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, flight from police, one count of assault of a police officer, theft of a motor vehicle and driving while prohibited.

He was found not guilty on a second count of assault of a police officer and failure to stop at an accident causing death.

On Feb. 24, 2024, Kassandra Gartner’s vehicle hit a spike belt meant for a U-Haul truck outside of Edmonton.

When she got out to check her tire, she was fatally struck by the U-Haul.

The U-Haul carried on to a gas station in Edmonton, where a car was stolen with a young child inside.

The child was dropped off unharmed a short distance later.

During the three-week trial for Ashby the Crown made the case that Ashby was the driver of the U-Haul while the defence argued that the evidence he was behind the wheel was circumstantial.

Ashby’s lawyer said there were three people reported to be in the U-Haul, including another man, and asked the court to consider if that person could have been the driver.

Gartner’s sister, Cheri Lund, spoke outside court after the verdict.

“It’s a long time coming and I am grateful that this part, this chapter, of our lives is over,” she told reporters.

“I’ll never get her back. I’ll never have anything remotely close to what I had with her. And the joy and the comfort and everything.”

“I think that he should be held accountable to the maximum allotment.”

Crown prosecutor Calvin Patterson also spoke.

“There are no good outcomes in a case like this because regardless of the outcome, Kassandra Gartner is still gone,” he said.

“But we hope that this outcome assists her family, friends and her community. And taking one step further in that healing journey.”

A date for sentencing has not been set.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson