London, Ontario – Jury selection is set to begin Monday morning in the trial of a woman facing charges in a fatal crash that claimed the life of a young girl and left other members of her Girl Guides troupe injured. Petronella McNorgan is expected to enter a plea of not guilty to charges of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm at her trial in a London court, according to her lawyer, Phillip Millar. The trial, presided over by Justice Pamela Hebner of the Superior Court of Justice, is scheduled to last for two weeks.
The criminal trial comes more than two years after a tragic accident occurred on Riverside Drive, just west of Wonderland Road. The incident, which took place on November 30, 2021, involved a westbound SUV running a red light. The vehicle struck another car, mounted the curb, hit a light pole and a tree, before colliding with ten pedestrians. An eight-year-old girl tragically succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, while seven children, one teenager, and an adult were also hurt in the crash.
The victims were part of the Girl Guides of Canada Brownie group, a troop for seven- and eight-year-old girls, now known as Embers. The group regularly met at Riverside United Church and was walking on the sidewalk at the time of the collision.
The devastating crash caused a ripple effect throughout the community, prompting many residents to light blue candles, the international symbol of the Girl Guides, or display Girl Guide uniforms in their windows as a gesture of solidarity.
In addition to the criminal trial, several civil lawsuits have been filed by the injured individuals and their families in relation to the November 2021 incident.
The trial is expected to begin with jury selection on Monday, followed by opening statements later in the day. The defense has indicated that McNorgan will plead not guilty to the charges of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
The outcome of this trial will be closely watched as it seeks to determine the level of accountability McNorgan should bear for the tragic crash and the loss of life that occurred. The proceedings are anticipated to shed light on the events leading up to the collision and the circumstances surrounding it.
As the trial gets underway, the community continues to reflect on the impact of this horrific incident and support the victims and their families during this difficult time.