Guilty plea for man charged in crash that killed Portage la Prairie woman

The Manitoba Law Courts building in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

A man charged in connection with a three-vehicle crash near Portage la Prairie, Man. that killed a 28-year-old woman and led to calls for bail reform has pleaded guilty to several charges.

James Lorne Hilton pleaded guilty to impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death during a court appearance in Portage la Prairie on Thursday.

The crash took place during the morning of Jan. 15, 2025, on Highway 26 in the RM of Portage la Prairie and resulted in the death of Kellie Verway, 28.

According to an agreed statement of facts read in court by Crown prosecutor Mike Himmelman, Hilton, who was 25 at the time of the incident, was driving a stolen Ford F-150 west on the highway when he lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the eastbound lane.

A Ford F-350 heading east took “evasive action” to avoid the truck Hilton was driving, crossing the centre line and hitting the vehicle Verway was driving.

Verway was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the agreed statement of facts, a witness saw Hilton exit the truck and be picked up by another vehicle and driven to a gas station on the Trans-Canada Highway outside of the city, where he called for a shuttle to drive him to Winnipeg.

RCMP called the shuttle company and instructed the driver to take Hilton to the Headingley RCMP detachment. Officers also spoke with Hilton over the phone, where he gave Mounties a false name. Hilton then left the shuttle and started running near a hotel in Headingley. He was later arrested near the river.

“Upon arrest, Hilton stated words to the effect of, ‘I didn’t know what to do. That’s why I ran. The accident and vehicle just looked so bad; I panicked and didn’t know what to do. So I ran and got in a cab,’” Himmelman said.

While in custody, Himmelman was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and approximately 10 grams of methamphetamine. Additional drug paraphernalia was found in the stolen truck.

A blood sample was taken from Hilton and it was found he had approximately 1,130 nanograms of methamphetamine in his blood that morning.

Verway’s death prompted her parents and Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox to call for reform of Canada’s bail laws after it was learned Hilton was out on bail at the time of the incident and had an active arrest warrant for failure to comply with conditions.

Five other charges Hilton was facing in relation to the incident were stayed as a result of the guilty plea.

Pre-sentencing reports have been ordered for Hilton.

Sentencing will take place at a later date.