Fatal collision on St. Clair Road on March 8, 2020 (Photo via OPP)Fatal collision on St. Clair Road on March 8, 2020 (Photo via OPP)
Sarnia

Chatham mother likely headed to prison for fatal head-on crash

A Chatham woman has pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving by drug causing death in connection with a head-on crash that killed an elderly Sarnia couple.

The collision near Wallaceburg happened two years ago.

Sarah Suitor, 41, of Chatham, had charges of dangerous driving causing death and possession of fentanyl withdrawn as she made an appearance in Chatham court on Tuesday by video.

Rose Hills, 87, and her husband William Hills, 88, both from Sarnia, died from injuries sustained in the collision on March 8, 2020 on St. Clair Road between Border Road and Heritage Line.

Rose Hills died in the hospital from her injuries while William Hills was pronounced dead at the scene. Suitor received minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital.

Assistant Crown Attorney James Boonstra told the court witnesses saw Suitor swerving several times, going through a red traffic light, missing a stop sign, taking wide turns, and eventually crossing the centre line and causing the head-on crash.

Boonstra said Suitor had several drugs in her system, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, methadone, cannabinol, and three other illegal substances.

Suitor will be sentenced in-person in Chatham court on July 7, 2022.

Boonstra believes Suitor will likely get a sentence in the penitentiary. The prosecution and defence lawyer Frank Retar are now preparing pre-sentence reports.

The Ontario Provincial Police officially laid the charges in July of 2020 after investigating the matter.

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