A Coquitlam man accused of dangerous driving in the death of a toddler in Vancouver will plead guilty to a lesser charge next month.
William Mah, 44, was charged with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm; the charges carry maximum sentences of 14 and 10 years, respectively. He appeared in BC Provincial Court in Vancouver on Monday and is due to plead guilty to the lesser charge of driving without due care and attention on June 8.
On Aug. 26, 2009 a mother and her two-year-old daughter were crossing Expo Boulevard at Abbott Street when they were hit by a truck turning right. The little girl was in her stroller and died at the scene.
Mah has been ticketed several times in the past for speeding and failing to stop at stop signs and traffic lights. The most recent violation was last April, when Mah was ticketed for failing to stop for a yellow light in a Port Moody intersection.
The girl's mother, who has not been identified, will have her victim impact statement read in court.
In other police news:
A Coquitlam RCMP officer received a conditional discharge for assaulting a driver in June 2010.
Const. Marko Duran was doing speed enforcement in Port Coquitlam when he pulled over Mark Brownlow for speeding. Brownlow was said to be angry and refused the ticket, called Duran a "loser" and threw the ticket out his window.
Duran told Brownlow he was under arrest for littering and, with Const. Trevor Doylend, delivered knee strikes to the man as they pulled him out of his car.
An investigation led to charges against both officers, but those against Doylend were eventually stayed.
Duran's conditional discharge means he won't have a criminal record. He'll do six months of probation and must write a letter of apology to Brownlow and do 30 hours of community service.
