‘Tragic incident’: Portage la Prairie mayor calling for justice system reforms in wake of fatal crash

Sharilyn Knox, Mayor of Portage la Prairie, speaks with CTV Winnipeg on Jan. 20, 2025. Knox is calling for bail reforms in the wake of a fatal crash last week near the city. (CTV News Winnipeg)

The mayor of Portage la Prairie is calling for justice system reforms following a fatal crash that claimed the life of a city employee.

Kellie Verwey died on Jan. 15 in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 26, about three kilometres east of Portage la Prairie.

Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox said Verwey worked in the city’s tourism department, and her death is being felt throughout the community.

“It was a very tragic incident that took her life, and our community is devastated by it,” she said.

James Lorne Hilton, 24, was charged with multiple offences related to the crash, including dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving. He had an active arrest warrant for failure to comply with conditions at the time of the collision. None of the charges have been proven in court.

Knox wrote a letter to Justice Minister Matt Wiebe on Friday, calling for bail reform. She wants public safety prioritized in sentencing and parole decisions, and communities to be consulted to help develop reforms.

“I 100 per cent believe in restorative justice, and I believe in people being reformed and getting the help they need, but I believe in being tough on crime,” she said. “I believe in people having consequences for their actions.

“I always say, I think this pendulum has swung too far the other way now, and we need to bring it back into the middle where people get the support they need, but they’re also held accountable for their actions, and that’s the piece that’s missing.”

Wiebe, who has received the letter, said the province has made efforts to keep communities safe in Manitoba.

“We’ve instituted a five-point bail plan that really talks about additional resources for law enforcement, better bail supervision, better interaction between our Crowns and the needs within community,” he said.

Wiebe said the province continues to advocate the federal government to make bail reform a priority.