Woodstock man facing more driving charges

20-year old Woodstock native Mitchell Hunter faces numerous charges, including dangerous driving causing death, after a pair of collisions in the GTA. (WPS Photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

Investigators from the Safer Roads Team have charged a man from Woodstock who was previously arrested in a 2024 fatal collision investigation with stunt driving in Mississauga.

Police observed the accused driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed in the area of Winston Churchill Boulevard and Argentia Road on May 23 around 1 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted without incident.

“As a result of the investigation, 20-year-old Mitchell Hunter has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act with stunt driving, speeding (102 km/h in a 60 km/h zone), failing to surrender his driver's licence and driving a motor vehicle contrary to emissions regulations,” said a Peel Regional Police press release.

The accused also received an immediate 30-day driver’s licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment.

“Hunter was previously arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences following a fatal collision which occurred on Nov. 24, 2024, in the area of Steeles Avenue and Finch Avenue in Brampton. He faces charges of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm,” added the release.

He is currently awaiting trial for those charges.

Dangerous driving causing death is an indictable-only offence, the most serious category of criminal offence short of murder-related offences.

It applies when a person operates a vehicle, motorcycle, boat, aircraft, or other conveyance in a manner dangerous to the public and that dangerous operation causes someone's death.

Although the maximum is life imprisonment, actual sentences vary widely depending on factors such as the degree of recklessness, speed, impairment, prior driving record, number of victims, guilty plea versus trial, and remorse and rehabilitation prospects.

Life sentences for dangerous driving causing death are extremely rare. Many convicted offenders receive sentences measured in years rather than decades, though particularly egregious cases can result in lengthy penitentiary terms and lengthy driving suspensions.

To help keep roads safe, members of the public are urged to report dangerous driving behaviours by contacting Road Safety Services at 905-453-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by filing an online report via Road Watch. Photo and video evidence of dangerous driving incidents can also be submitted through the following evidence submission portal.